From what I've read it wasn't a compromise and Google fought it to the end. It was a judicial ruling that required them to hand over 50,000 random urls from their index. The did not have to hand over query logs though so it's much less than the gov't first requested.

There's a big difference though in Google agreeing to hand over the information and being ordered to by the courts.

Here's a link from Search Engine Watch with a lot of links to a history of the case

Google and microsoft? evil??

that was interesting.

Originally Posted by nixies78@yahoo.

I think as soon as google started selling shares, they then became legally bound to earn as much profit as they could for their share holder. At that point the 'do no evil' policy had to go out the window. If they decided to do 'good' and make less profit they would be breaking the law.

I wouldn't say they were any worse or any better than microsoft.

I don't really think that is a fair way to put it. Selling shares is not illegal and is not a bad thing in any shape or form. In a way I have to see this as bad because wasn't Google supposed to be totaly organic seperating advertising from organic? What is next? However isn't it there right to do this even if they are wrong? It can go either way.

Originally Posted by vangogh

From what I've read it wasn't a compromise and Google fought it to the end. It was a judicial ruling that required them to hand over 50,000 random urls from their index. The did not have to hand over query logs though so it's much less than the gov't first requested.

There's a big difference though in Google agreeing to hand over the information and being ordered to by the courts.

Here's a link from Search Engine Watch with a lot of links to a history of the case

I have to say I didn't hear that part. That puts it in a whole different light. Which makes me feal much better. However google just gave them over just like that? Google refused to give anything to the government let alone something like this. Seems strange

once a company grows really big, everyone thinks they're evil..

microsoft is evil, google is evil, you're just jaleous

Well I dont think Google is evil, I just today downloaded a copy of Google earth for linux, it cost me naff all and works great.

And the fact that Google faught the US gov over handing over logs is a shining light to me. Now thats ethics by telling big brother to sod off and collect their own logs. Who guards the guards.

I'm not getting into the ethics of information gathering and whether it be right or wrong though I am quite happy to discuss such a big subject.

Of course some preassure must have been asserted for them to give up URL's which makes those doing the pressurising much more evil.

Oh and Google does not release everything with a liscence fee attached to it either. Infact I use google daily and as far as I know its cost me nothing to do so.

So keep it up Google, your giving MS an headache and lets hope it progresses to migrane.

Ibbo

ibbo nice post

well MS isn't bad either, exept the fact they're not open source (= their software ), and that they ask money for everything... but, they deliver good products (exept IE of course..)

google is just like any other big company Make Money At All Costs!

That's kind of what companies do though. And people suddently deciding they're evil is just what comes with that. Before Microsoft was the evildoer it was IBM, before IBM it was another company. Now Google seems to be getting the evil tag. In about 15 or 20 years it will be another company probably one that is just starting out now or hasn't even been conceived yet.

I don't care for everything Microsoft or Google does, but I don't think either company is evil. They're both just doing what they think best to do to run their businesses. And it really isn't just money at all costs. Looks to me like Google gives away just about every product they have and while Microsoft isn't as free with their products Bill Gates does give more money to charity than any human being on the planet I belive. Both companies do a lot of socially responsible things. We just don't hear about it as much since it's not as newsworthy.

I think google has been great and now they're just going with the flow to be competitive.....it is a business after all right?

competitive or not..given time, every company would turn from little puppies into money-driven pittbulls!

google is becomming the 2nd microsoft.

i think there better than microsoft on the internet side of things

Originally Posted by niceboy

google is becomming the 2nd microsoft.

And vice versa. MS is trying to lead the SE world.

Google is Google with a big G, enjoy the ride or don't, it's your choice but don’t tell me you wouldn't be even worse in their boots. They are doing just fine and it is ours to determine what is best for us on the world where They are creating rules.

AOL is the evil company if you ask me.