Map2Model is now gone!
The popular (and free) website that delivered 3D printable maps is now offline.
A statement on Reddit from the developer says:
“This is an incredibly difficult message to share. What started as a small hobby project grew into something far more meaningful because of everyone who used it, shared feedback, created models, and supported it along the way.
I recently received legal notices concerning certain aspects of the tool. As Map2Model has always been a small personal hobby project, I am not in a position to take on a legal dispute.
I am deeply sorry to everyone who enjoyed using Map2Model or had projects planned with it. Thank you for every message, idea, model, and bit of support over the months. It truly meant a lot to me.”
We posted about the site last year, and found it quite impressive. You could easily generate highly detailed 3D models of landscapes. Most interesting were the city maps, because they included buildings.
There are a few sites that provide this type of service, but most of them have one issue or another. I preferred using Map2Model because, as I said a year ago, it was “ridiculously easy to use”. That’s a winning strategy most of the time.
But apparently not here. The legal notice was sufficient to warrant taking down the site. Site developer “Smoggy3D” explained in a bit more detail:
“To clarify, the issue was not the map data sources; the tool used open data sources with their respective licensing and attribution.
The legal notices concerned allegations that certain aspects of the tool could be used to create 3D map models which, in their view, may affect design rights they assert. As this was only a small personal hobby project, I am not in a position to take on a legal dispute, so I decided to shut it down.”
Smoggy3D provided a list of alternative services that can provide, more or less, similar functions. The list, with links, can be found at Map2Model. However, if Map2Model was taken down, one wonders how long the others have to survive. Use them if you can!
