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Michael Geist sez,

Canada Post has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Geolytica, which operates GeoCoder.ca, a website that provides several geocoding services including free access to a crowdsourced compiled database of Canadian postal codes. Canada Post argues that it is the exclusive copyright holder of all Canadian postal codes and claims that GeoCoder appropriated the database and made unauthorized reproductions.

GeoCoder, which is being represented by CIPPIC, filed its statement of defence yesterday. The defence explains how GeoCoder managed to compile a postal code database by using crowdsource techniques without any reliance on Canada Post's database. The site created street address look-up service in 2004 with users often including a postal code within their query. The site retained the postal code information and gradually developed its own database with the postal codes (a system not unlike many marketers that similarly develop databases by compiling this information). The company notes that it has provided access to the information for free for the last eight years and that it is used by many NGOs for advocacy purposes.

While GeoCoder makes for a fascinating case study on generating crowdsourced information, the legal issues raised by the case should attract widespread attention. Key issues include whether there is any copyright in postal codes, questions on whether Canada Post owns copyright in the database if there is copyright, and a denial that the crowdsourced version of the database - independently created by GeoCoder - infringes the copyright of the Canada Post database.

I just had Canada Post return an envelope from the court house with a court date on it, because it was missing a postal code.  I didn't miss my court date because the court house called me before they sent the letter to confirm that I could attend on that date.

After the court date, the court house called and left a message for me saying that the letter they sent me was returned to them undeliverable, and that I need to give the court house my new address. I called Canada Post and left a message saying there are two Roads with the same name in Kelowna and that they may have tried to deliver to the wrong Road and that is why the address was considered undeliverable that they couldn't find the address. I received a reply message back that because the court house didn't have a trace on the letter, that Canada Post couldn't trace it.

I called Canada Post again and at the time didn't know that the envelope was missing a postal code and they took my complaint and gave me a # for reference if I call back.

I tried to call back after I found out the postal code was missing, but the line went dead after I pressed the number the message told me to press to contact the right dept, so I didn't bother calling back again. Canada Post can figure it out. 

Its too bad that Canada Post couldn't look up the postal code for the court house, especially since it was a court document.

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I shipped a light medium size box to Rockaway NJ from Armstrong BC Canada Post postal office. It costs just over $50.00 to ship.

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I needed saran wrap and because I live 45 minutes from town one way, my Mom was going to mail me some. It was going to cost $8.00 or something she said, so I went without saran wrap for a month and kept washing the saran wrap I did have.

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Thank you Canada Post :(

okanaganlakebc.ca

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To: "denis.lebel "at" parl.gc.ca" <denis.lebel "at" parl.gc.ca>; "Questions "at" tc.gc.ca" <Questions "at" tc.gc.ca>; "mintc "at" tc.gc.ca" <mintc "at" tc.gc.ca>; "ombuds "at" ombudsman.postescanadapost.ca" <ombuds "at" ombudsman.postescanadapost.ca>; "deepak.chopra "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca" <deepak.chopra "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca>
Cc: "newsroom "at" thewesternstar.com" <newsroom "at" thewesternstar.com>; "news919 "at" rogers.com" <news919 "at" rogers.com>; "mark.campbell "at" rci.rogers.com" <mark.campbell "at" rci.rogers.com>; "jsheppard "at" globeandmail.com" <jsheppard "at" globeandmail.com>; "registrar "at" chrt-tcdp.gc.ca" <registrar "at" chrt-tcdp.gc.ca>; "info "at" ottawa.bbb.org" <info "at" ottawa.bbb.org>; "pm "at" pm.gc.ca" <pm "at" pm.gc.ca>
Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011 5:04 PM
Subject: Demonstrated Lack of Customer Service from your Area-Manager tom.lyttle "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca

To
Ombudsman of Canada Post
AND
Honourable Denis Lebel, MP, PC. Minister responsible for Canada Post Corporation. House of Commons. Ottawa, ON. K1A 0A6
Appointed Minister responsible for Canada Post Corporation and also responsible for Transport, Infrastructure
AND
Mr. Deepak Chopra. President and CEO. Canada Post Corporation. Email: deepak.chopra "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca

(Delivered via email to ombuds "at" ombudsman.postescanadapost.ca, deepak.chopra "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca, denis.lebel "at" parl.gc.ca, Questions "at" tc.gc.ca , mintc "at" tc.gc.ca )

Dear Ombudsman and Honourable Denis Lebel and Mr. Chopra,

Please refer to the self-explanatory email that was sent to me from your Canada Post manager. Evidently, he has chosen to ignore a relevant customer concern. To date, in the past almost one calendar year, he has not even responded to my complaint, nor has he done anything about it.
• If this is the demonstrated attitude and level of responsibility demonstrated by your designated area managers to the ordinary taxpayers and Canadian public, what do you expect is the direction that they will provide to staff that they lead?

Please provide me a satisfactory written response within 7 calendar days.

Sincerely,
Complainant

cc: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/canada-post-alberta-c167780.html
http://www.okanaganlakebc.ca/community/personal/all/canada_post_results.htm
http://www.complaintnow.com/help/contact
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/sendmessage.php
http://www.canadiandesi.com/contactus.php

NOTE: This message [and all references, attachments] is intended only for the named recipient(s) above. It contains information that is privileged and confidential, and may be exempt from disclosure under law. Be aware that any other disclosure, Copying, distribution of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error or are not the named recipient(s), please immediately notify the sender by reply message and delete/ destroy all copies of this message. Information contained herein is to the best of sender's current knowledge and present ability in the available format.

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----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "LYTTLE, Tom" <tom.lyttle "at" canadapost.postescanada.ca>
To: "'complainant "at" service provider'" complainant "at" service provider Sent: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: Provide the WRITTEN RENEWAL REMINDERS IN A TIMELY MANNER, PRIOR TO the EXPIRATION of the RENTAL-PERIOD" IN A TIMELY MANNER; Local Staff SHOULD be TRAINED APPROPRIATELY to NOT CHARGE A PO-Box Customer TWICE for the SAME RENTAL-PERIOD

Complainant has resurfaced. I will investigate but, will I respond?

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From: complainant <complainant "at" service provider> To: LYTTLE, Tom Sent: Nov 2010
Subject: Provide the WRITTEN RENEWAL REMINDERS IN A TIMELY MANNER, PRIOR TO the EXPIRATION of the RENTAL-PERIOD" IN A TIMELY MANNER; Local Staff SHOULD be TRAINED APPROPRIATELY to NOT CHARGE A PO-Box Customer TWICE for the SAME RENTAL-PERIOD

To Mr. Tom Lyttle, Retail Business Manager. Canada Post  [Delivered via email to Tom.Lyttle "at" canadapost.ca ]

Dear Sir,

1) On 18Oct10, I renewed my PO Box 9999 at the Canada Post outlet located in the Cloverdale Mall in the PharmaPlus, Toronto, ONT.
2) From your website at http://www/canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/pgpostbox-e.asp I am given to understand that: "When Customers have rented a Postal Box, WRITTEN RENEWAL REMINDERS ARE TYPICALLY PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE END OF THE RENTAL PERIOD".
3) In speaking with Canada Post at (800)267-1177 AS WELL AS in speaking with the store manager Ms. Cheryl, I am given to understand that the first [of 3] written-notices are placed in the renter's postal-box commencing AT LEAST one calendar month PRIOR to the expiration-date of the current-rental-period.
- Ms. Cheryl told me on 18Oct10, that this should have been done by the postal-supervisor Mr. Rich.
4) NO such written-notices were provided to me AT ALL.
5) It was ONLY BY-CHANCE that I happened to inquire about the expiration-of-my-current-rental-period from the postal-clerk Ms. Elizabeth on 18Oct10.
6) Furthermore, I am also given to understand from USUAL AND REASONABLE AND LOGICAL business-practice AND PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL JUSTICE AND BASIC CONSUMER-LAW,

- AS WELL AS In speaking with Canada Post at (800)267-1177 AND in speaking with the store manager Ms. Cheryl, that a customer should NOT have to PAY TWICE for ANY RENTAL PERIOD.
7) Yet, on 18Oct10, the postal-clerk Ms. Elizabeth CONTINUED TO INSIST that I have to ONCE-AGAIN pay for the period from 18Oct10 THROUGH 31Oct10, [EVEN THOUGH I PAID for it EARLIER] SIMPLY BECAUSE I was RENEWING ON 18Oct10 [for the next 6 months].
8) It was ONLY when I asked for the store-manager, that the store-manager Ms. Cheryl told Ms. Elizabeth that this was BOTH UNRESONABLE AND ILLOGICAL TO ASK A CUSTOMER TO HAVE TO PAY TWICE FOR BEING CONSCIENTIOUS [by renewing AHEAD of the expiration-date].
• It was ONLY THEN that Ms. Elizabeth stopped insisting that I do not have to pay-twice for the period of 18Oct10 through 31Oct10.
9) Furthermore, it is UNREASONABLE for the postal-clerk Ms. Elizabeth to DEMAND that I HAVE TO PRESENT MYSELF ON 31OCT10 EXACTLY to do the renewal.
• It is ALSO CONTRARY TO the logo posted on Canada Post publicly-available brochures [numbered 802976, January 2007 edition] that "convenience is key".
10) REASONABLY AND LOGICALLY, ANY sub-agents of Canada Post must abide by Canada Post's PUBLICLY posted policy AND PUBLICLY stated position.
11) It is ALSO CONTRARY TO what is posted on Canada Post website at http://www/canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/pgpostbox-e.asp: "CONVENIENCE Postal Box" .. "payment for CONVENIENCE postal boxes must be PAID IN ADVANCE for the selected rental period".
12) Moving forward, I ask:
a) That the postal-supervisor Mr. Rich be instructed to provide the "WRITTEN RENEWAL REMINDERS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE RENTAL PERIOD" IN A TIMELY MANNER;
b) The postal-clerk Ms. Elizabeth be TRAINED APPROPRIATELY in NOT CHARGING A PO-Box CUSTOMER TWICE FOR THE SAME RENTAL PERIOD.
13) Please provide me a satisfactory WRITTEN response within 7 calendar days.
• I am NOT available for any verbal contact via phone on this matter. Furthermore, I am legally entitled to a written response to my written complaint.

Sincerely,
Complainant

Pick up at the Post Office

When picking up an item at a Post Office, residents will be required to show their Delivery Notice Card and personal identification. Please note:

• We hold items at the Post Office for 15 days.

• If an item is not picked up within the first 5 days, we send a Final Delivery Notice to the addressee, indicating that 10 days remain to pick up the item.

• After 15 days, we return the item to sender.

Read the details about personal identification requirements (.pdf)

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/solutions/b2cdelivery.jsf

Delivery to a Community Mailbox

• More than 3 million residential addresses receive their mail and parcel deliveries at community mailboxes, which are conveniently located near their residence.

• Each residential address has a key to its own compartment.

• If an item is too large to fit in the compartment, we place the item in a parcel delivery compartment and leave the resident a key to open the compartment.

• If the item is too large for the parcel delivery compartment or we need a signature or to collect funds, we leave a Delivery Notice Card indicating the pickup location at the nearest Canada Post retail outlet.

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/solutions/b2cdelivery.jsf

Flexible delivery options

Exercise even more control over the residential delivery of your packages by selecting one of the following flexible delivery options:

Leave at door (do not card)—for small, low value items

• If the resident is not at home, we will leave the item in a safe location such as between doors, at a side door or with a neighbour

We will leave a safe drop card in the mailbox indicating where the parcel is

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/solutions/b2cdelivery.jsf#Flexible

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Delivery to Rural Routes

• We deliver the item to the door if it's within 0.5 km from the rural route line of travel.

• We leave a Delivery Notice Card telling the resident where to pick up the package if:

◦ The door is farther than 0.5 km.

◦ No one is home.

◦ Collection of funds is more than $500 in cash.

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/solutions/b2cdelivery.jsf#Delivery