Getmapping sues Ordnance Survey for 'reneging on deal'

The Queen has found herself unwittingly on a collision course with the Government as a result of a legal dispute involving a small aerial mapping company.

Getmapping, an AIM-listed aerial photography specialist in which the Queen has a stake, is taking legal action against the Government-owned Ordnance Survey claiming it has abused its market position and breached fair pricing policies. Ordnance Survey is part of the beleaguered Stephen Byers' Department of Transport.

Getmapping is seeking an injunction to restrain the Government agency from reneging on a written Resellers Agreement between the two parties 18 months ago and breaching the Competition Act.

Getmapping has spent £6m developing an aerial map of Britain which it sells over the internet to estate agents, local authorities and civil engineers. It finished the so-called Millennium Map in May 2001 having agreed the previous September that Ordnance Survey could sell it as part of its own services.

However, last May Ordnance Survey decided it wanted a higher specification aerial map and put the contract out to tender. Getmapping claims Ordnance Survey was planning to undercut the Getmapping product even though its higher specification map would cost more to develop. It says Ordnance Survey would therefore be cross-subsidising in order to compete unfairly with the private sector.

Ordnance Survey said it was "disappointed" by Getmapping's decision to go to court. However, Ordnance Survey said it had put the contract out to tender after research showed a higher specification map would be well received by customers.

Getmapping shares lost 22 per cent to close at 12p. The Queen had a 1.5 per cent stake worth close to £1m when the shares peaked at 224p in 2000. This would now be worth just £66,000.