Zen Garden > Google Gets SLAPPED For Copyright Theft

Well, many of us have heard the term "Google Slap" but now Google has been slapped itself. With so many rogue website and ezine owners stealing copyright the big boy of the game, Google itself, has now been slapped with a fine for copyright theft. If you are concerned with your intellectual property being STOLEN and published WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT then take heart. The Courts are now ruling in favor of copyright owners. Read on to find out exactly what happened and how this will benefit all copyright owners...

Google, the Californian company that runs the world's most popular search engine, lost a court case in Brussels Belgium on 13 February 2007 where it was found that Google had breached copyright.

Copiepresse, a copyright protection specialist, was representing a group of 18 mostly French language newspapers who complained that Google was using "cached" links to offer free access to archived articles from the papers that were sold on a subscription basis.

The court ordered Google to remove the offending links, snippets of articles and all photographs from its sites. This included "Google News" which displayed the information WITHOUT the permission of the newspapers.

The Court said that if copyright owners contacted Google with a complaint then Google would have 24 hours to remove the offending content or face a fine of 25,000 Euros per day.

Apparently Google is appealing the ruling as it believes it has done nothing wrong. Well, I fail to see how Google thinks that it can display the intellectual property of another party and then when informed by that party that Google is breaching copyright how it can possibly defend that position.

Copyright theft is copyright theft.

This attitude may be the reason why so many other website and ezine publishers believe that they can steal intellectual copyright then display it for all and sundry as if it belonged to them and not the originators of the material. In many instances even the name of the copyright owners and any links to them have been removed. Clearly this is copyright theft.

Internet copyright theft has now been tested in Court and a precedent has been set.

For further information The West Australian newspaper edition of 14 February, 2007 can be referenced. Page 33 carries the full story entitled: "Google to Appeal Over Court Copyright Defeat."

Let this be a warning to all rogue website and ezine owners. Using stolen copyright will see you end up in Court and fined.

Copyright theft is a serious crime. Google has been slapped for it and it is a multi-million dollar corporation. Copyright thieves should think twice before they steal intellectual property.

Brought to you by: Gary Simpson's http://www.MotivationSelfEsteem.com/Zenspiration.html website where you can receive motivating "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of the highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice." Here you will also be able to get your password for the "Wealthy Minds" Newsletter which will give you access to the MEMBERS' ONLY area of the http://www.turn-debt-into-wealth.com website.

Gary Simpson is the author of nine books covering a diverse range of subjects such as motivation, self esteem, affirmations, self defense, wealth creation and much more. His many motivation and success articles appear all over the web.

Gary Simpson is a 7th Dan karate master who teaches self defense, motivation, self help and wealth building to students around the world through home study courses. You may reprint this article as you include this author credit and an active link to his web site. Finance - Self Help - Motivation - Self Defense - Personal Growth MotivationSelfEsteem.com