# Fake towns and roads on maps

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-towns-and-roads-on-maps/684828>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [March 29, 2014, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-towns-and-roads-on-maps/684828 "2014-03-29T11:22:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-towns-and-roads-on-maps/684828/1 "2014-03-29T11:22:07Z")

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Cecil wrote about this back in 1991:  
[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1058/do-maps-have-copyright-traps-to-permit-detection-of-unauthorized-copies](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1058/do-maps-have-copyright-traps-to-permit-detection-of-unauthorized-copies)

There must have been long-ago discussion, that got picked up and we’ve now got a book and upcoming movie. Thread and discussion is in Cafe Society, since it’s not really about Cecil’s column. See and comment here: [In NYT story author got inspiration for story from the Straight Dope & book is now to be a movie! - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=719517)