Couple Sue Google Over House Image

Yet again the courts need to decide whether "you can always ask us to remove it" is reasonable. As more and more sites and services potentially infringe on copyright and privacy, are companies and individuals expected to constantly crawl the web and look for their image/info/work being listed, and then look for a way of opting out?

I'm pretty sure that Google are legally allowed to take photos of streets and use them in Google Maps. The couple are asserting that Google "entered the driveway of the couple's private property, in order to take pictures to be uploaded on the website". If that is the fact, and can be proven, it might be an interesting case to keep an eye on.

100 Google Maps Things

100 Things to do with Google Maps Mashups - and these are really just a sample of the possibilities. Basically anything that exists in the physical world can be mapped, from pedophiles to Great White Sharks (if they have a GPS tag), from McDonalds to public toilets.

The link is to Google Maps mashups - where somone has combine an XML file that contains location data, with a map from Google. They are quite easy to do, and worth attempting if you can think of an original use...

Like this one - Find high risk areas for modern marine pirates

Google Maps now photographing Aussie streets

If you see a car like the one above, smile! It's Google taking pics of the streets of Australia. More...

Google At The Gas Pump

Coming soon to 3,500 pumps across the USA, on color screens connected to the web, it will list local businesses (and coupons) and provide Google Maps directions to them, if you want. At this stage you won't be able to choose your own destinations. Future enhancements include weather & traffic reports. More...