G
Guest
Well the fun fact here is that Google Maps (free) have been around for longer than Bottin Cartographes (paid). The court ruling is biased against Google anyway as the French Government have a financial interest in Bottin...
http://www.1bis.com/pro/actus.asp?lang=EN
31/7/2008
"Bottin Cartographes has received a State subsidy in response to the 6th request for proposals by the Fonds Unique Interministériel (R&D fund for competitiveness clusters)..."
The French Government actually created an un-level playing field for Google Maps.
If I were Google I would say "thanks but no thanks" pack up and leave. they don't need offices there and the French users do 99% of the stuff online anyway so it won't impact their ad-revenue too much. I'm sure Google are paying taxes on the servers and buildings they're renting in France but the French forget that...
http://www.1bis.com/pro/actus.asp?lang=EN
31/7/2008
"Bottin Cartographes has received a State subsidy in response to the 6th request for proposals by the Fonds Unique Interministériel (R&D fund for competitiveness clusters)..."
The French Government actually created an un-level playing field for Google Maps.
If I were Google I would say "thanks but no thanks" pack up and leave. they don't need offices there and the French users do 99% of the stuff online anyway so it won't impact their ad-revenue too much. I'm sure Google are paying taxes on the servers and buildings they're renting in France but the French forget that...