More Trouble for Google from the French

Originally posted 2010-12-04 23:55:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Reuters “news service” reports that “Agence France Presse has sued Google Inc. (GOOG), alleging the Web search leader includes AFP’s photos, news headlines and stories on its news site without permission. ”

The French news service is seeking damages of at least $17.5 million and an order barring Google News from displaying AFP photographs, news headlines or story leads, according to the suit filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. . . .

AFP said it has informed Google that it is not authorized to use AFP’s copyrighted material as it does and has asked Google to cease and desist from infringing its copyrighted work. AFP alleged that Google has ignored such requests and as of the filing date of the lawsuit “continues in an unabated manner to violate AFP’s copyrights.”

Google is more than a search engine, it’s a dad-blamed litigation engine! While it’s hard to believe the allegation that it ignored communicatinos from AFP, if that turns out to be true here, it would be inexcusable.

But that is a distraction. Google’s epoch-making business and technology is shaking lots and lots of IP and other trees. I for one hope its business can survive making all this law for the rest of the world — win, lose or draw.

UPDATE: Settled, April 2007.