We recently had a customer sign up to IP Moat after discovering their unique maps had been replicated, prompting our team to revisit some classic cartography anti-counterfeit techniques and how they remain relevant in today's digital world...
Cartography has long been a field of precision and creativity, but it has also been an area vulnerable to counterfeiting. Just as modern brands battle counterfeit products, mapmakers have historically employed clever tricks to catch unauthorised reproductions of their work.
The Art of Fake Islands and Phantom Streets
One of the oldest and most fascinating tricks in cartography involves placing fake islands, phantom streets, or minor, seemingly insignificant errors on a map. These elements, known as "trap streets" or "paper towns," were intentionally added as unique markers that would expose unauthorised copies. If another map featured the same fake details, it was clear that the original had been copied without permission.
A famous example is the non-existent town of Agloe, New York, inserted into maps in the 1930s by the General Drafting Company. When the town mysteriously appeared on other maps, it was proof of intellectual property theft. Similarly, some cartographers added fake islands in remote areas, which led to confusion for explorers and, in some cases, people still chasing non-existent landmasses to this day.
Are People Still Chasing Fake Islands?
Surprisingly, the legacy of cartographic trickery persists. Some old maps containing deliberately inserted fake islands led to actual maritime expeditions attempting to verify them. Even in the age of satellite mapping, historical records sometimes fuel persistent myths about lost islands and hidden places. This phenomenon underscores the lasting power of counterfeit markers and how misinformation, whether accidental or intentional, can spread when intellectual property is not properly protected.
What This Means for Modern IP Protection
The concept of trap streets and fake islands is still relevant today, especially for businesses producing original digital content, designs, and product information. Much like old cartographers embedding subtle markers, modern brands can use similar tactics to detect counterfeiting:
- Watermarking and Hidden Metadata - Embedding unique identifiers within digital files can help track unauthorised copies.
- Deliberate Variants in Product Descriptions - Some brands include unique phrasing or minor tweaks in product details to detect scraping and counterfeit listings.
- Trackable Serial Numbers and QR Codes - Assigning unique, verifiable numbers to products enables quick identification of fakes.
How IP Moat Helps
IP Moat applies the same principle that cartographers used centuries ago but with modern tools to detect unauthorised reproductions. Our platform scans for copied listings, manipulated descriptions, and unauthorised sellers, alerting businesses when their intellectual property is at risk.
From trap streets to fake islands, history has shown that counterfeits are inevitable, but so are the means to catch them. Whether you’re a mapmaker, a digital content creator, or a product-based business, safeguarding your intellectual property requires vigilance and smart detection methods. IP Moat helps brands stay ahead of counterfeiters, just as clever cartographers once did with their fake islands.
If you suspect your content or products are being copied, get in touch with us to see how we can help.
