Local laws threaten the global future of augmented reality
In response to littering and damage at Chicago's Loyola Dunes Restoration Site, an Illinois state representative introduced “Pidgey’s Law"—named for a Pokemon character—which would fine app developers if they do not remove checkpoints within two days of receiving a complaint. The short turnaround time and the cost of the fines ($100 per-day per-infraction) means developers would have to expend resources to vet every one of their checkpoints; in the case of Pokemon Go, that's more than 4 million worldwide.
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors last month approved an ordinance requiring companies to obtain the equivalent of an event permit before introducing location-based augmented-reality features that would draw users to local parks. Fees range from $100 to $1,000 and would require developers to estimate how many people are expected to be using the app in the park each day.
In New York State, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, D-Brooklyn, threatened to introduce even tougher legislation that would hold companies like Niantic liable for user safety, citing accounts of distracted Pokemon Go players using the app while driving or while walking in the middles of the street.
See the full story here: http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/technology/325527-local-laws-threaten-the-global-future-of-augmented-reality