東京電力的眾包 Power Pole 應用程式引發智慧財產權糾紛

東京電力公司 (TEPCO) 因一款名為「PicTrée - Grid Grab」的應用程式而面臨智慧財產權糾紛，該應用程式鼓勵用戶識別故障電線桿以換取獎勵。據報導，該應用程式是與Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA) 合作開發的，與全球基金會(WEF) 現有的一款名為「Tekkon」的應用程式有著驚人的相似之處，該應用程式也促進了眾包基礎設施檢查。據報道，世界經濟論壇正在考慮對東京電力及其合作夥伴採取法律行動，而前橋市政府已撤回對 PicTrée 應用程式測試階段的參與。

TEPCO's Crowdsourced Power Pole Inspection App Faces IP Dispute

東京電力的眾包電線桿檢查應用程式面臨智慧財產權糾紛

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, finds itself embroiled in a brewing intellectual property (IP) dispute over its recently launched mobile application, "PicTrée - Grid Grab: Capture the Current-." The app, developed in collaboration with Singapore-based Web3 entertainment firm Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA) and joint venture Greenway Grid Global, has drawn comparisons to the popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go.

福島核電廠的營運商東京電力控股公司 (TEPCO) 發現自己因其最近推出的行動應用程式「PicTrée - Grid Grab：Capture the Current-」捲入了一場正在醞釀的智慧財產權 (IP) 糾紛。該應用程式是與新加坡 Web3 娛樂公司 Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA) 和合資企業 Greenway Grid Global 合作開發的，它與流行的擴增實境遊戲 Pokémon Go 進行了比較。

PicTrée encourages users to explore their communities and upload images of aging public infrastructure, including utility poles, steel towers, manholes, and handholes. These contributions are rewarded with Amazon gift certificates and PlayMining's DEAPcoin ($DEP) token. The app was conceived to address a labor shortage of utility pole inspectors, exacerbated by Japan's aging population and subsequent restrictions on overtime work.

PicTrée 鼓勵用戶探索他們的社區並上傳老化公共基礎設施的圖像，包括電線桿、鋼塔、沙井和手孔。這些貢獻將獲得亞馬遜禮券和 PlayMining 的 DEAPcoin ($DEP) 代幣作為獎勵。該應用程式旨在解決電線桿檢查員的勞動力短缺問題，而日本人口老化和隨後的加班限制加劇了這個問題。

TEPCO's "Gamified Work" model, championed by DEA founder Kozo Yamada, seeks to leverage gamification to streamline labor-intensive tasks in various industries. However, the PicTrée app has come under fire from Whole Earth Foundation (WEF), a Japanese non-profit organization, for its striking resemblance to WEF's own app, Tekkon. Released in 2022, Tekkon has partnered with other power providers and facilitated urban exploration events, garnering hundreds of participants.

由 DEA 創辦人 Kozo Yamada 所倡導的 TEPCO 的「遊戲化工作」模式旨在利用遊戲化來簡化各行業的勞動密集任務。然而，PicTrée 應用程式因與 WEF 自己的應用程式 Tekkon 驚人相似而受到日本非營利組織全球基金會 (WEF) 的批評。 Tekkon 於 2022 年發布，與其他電力供應商合作，促進了城市探索活動，吸引了數百名參與者。

Striking similarities between PicTrée and Tekkon extend beyond their shared focus on infrastructure inspection and rewards system. Both apps feature a "utility pole challenge," prompting users to photograph and submit images of these structures. According to local media reports, WEF is contemplating legal action against TEPCO and its partners.

PicTrée 和 Tekkon 之間驚人的相似之處超越了他們對基礎設施檢查和獎勵系統的共同關注。這兩款應用程式都設有“電線桿挑戰”，提示用戶拍攝並提交這些結構的圖像。根據當地媒體報道，世界經濟論壇正在考慮對東京電力及其合作夥伴採取法律行動。

The Maebashi municipal government, where PicTrée was scheduled to undergo a multi-month demonstration, has withdrawn its involvement amid the IP dispute. The controversy surrounding PicTrée highlights the complexities of IP protection and the ethical implications of crowdsourcing in the digital age.

PicTrée 原定在前橋市政府進行為期數月的示威活動，但由於智慧財產權糾紛，前橋市政府已撤回參與。圍繞 PicTrée 的爭議凸顯了智慧財產權保護的複雜性以及數位時代眾包的道德影響。

As Japan grapples with a shrinking workforce and aging infrastructure, innovative solutions are sought to maintain essential services. However, the balance between leveraging technology and respecting intellectual property rights remains a delicate one. The outcome of the PicTrée-Tekkon dispute will undoubtedly shape the future of crowdsourced inspections and gamified work models in Japan and beyond.

隨著日本努力應對勞動力萎縮和基礎設施老化的問題，人們尋求創新解決方案來維持基本服務。然而，利用科技和尊重智慧財產權之間的平衡仍然很微妙。 PicTrée-Tekkon 糾紛的結果無疑將塑造日本及其他地區眾包檢查和遊戲化工作模式的未來。