Google found guilty of trespassing, has to pay $1

Emil

Posts: 152   +0

After two and a half years of fighting in court, Google has been found guilty of trespassing to take photos for its Street View feature of Google Maps. The search giant will have to pay $1 to Aaron and Christine Boring. US District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon wrapped up the case with a consent judgment, which means both parties agreed to the final resolution terms.

"This is one sweet dollar of vindication," the Borings said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Google could have just sent us an apology letter in the very beginning, but chose to try to prove they had a legal right to be on our land. We are glad they finally gave up." The other party is also satisfied. "We are pleased that this lawsuit has finally ended with plaintiffs' acknowledgment that they are entitled to only $1," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. The company can continue developing the Street View feature.

The couple sued Google in 2008, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for invading their privacy, acting negligently, being unjustly enriched, and trespassing. The Google Street View car entered and photographed their Pittsburgh property, which includes a private road leading to their house. The photo was then published on Google Maps. The lawsuit was dismissed in February 2009, but the Borings appealed to the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which reversed the dismissal and sent the case back to the lower court.

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lchu12 said:
So who won in the end, really?

I can tell you who lost: Google.

Eric Schmidt's 1$-a-year salary will be used to pay the damages to this couple.

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<img src="http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7821/75378trollfaced.png" alt="Troll face" />
 
so........ no i just cant, must! resist... trolling..... OMGWTFBBQSERIUSLY O_______O
 
Way to go for a 50 billion dollars company for bragging after pleading guilty to a couple that only wanted apologies! Google can suck it...
 
cyrusjumpjet said:
Guest said:
Who won?

The lawyers, obviously.

So ridiculously true. I wonder if the Borings' pride (and $1) was worth the thousands of dollars it cost them.

Typically in the U.S., the loser pays all lawyers fees, so Google lost a lot more than $1.
 
I think this sets a bad precedent. Thieves can case a residence or entire neighborhood from the comfort of their homes. Street view may make sense in cities and business areas, but I don't see the point of publishing images of peoples' private residences on the net. Thieves are already using facebook and twiltter to know when people are on vacation, now google is helping with directions and images.....
 
I think this sets a bad precedent. Thieves can case a residence or entire neighborhood from the comfort of their homes. Street view may make sense in cities and business areas, but I don't see the point of publishing images of peoples' private residences on the net. Thieves are already using facebook and twiltter to know when people are on vacation, now google is helping with directions and images.....

True, but common sense should prevail here!

I mean come on, would you hang great big Las Vegas style neon lights on the front of your house saying "Rob me I'm on holiday (vacation!)!"... No you wouldn't, so exercise the same attention to detail as to where your putting it all online.
 
lol they probably spent that dollar(+) in McDonald's on the way home from court
 
they only wanted an apology what douche bags, they wasted everyone's time and money for 2 years...
 
Wow. $1. That wont even buy cup-of-Joe now-days, will it? Now look, I know these people are concerned about their privacy, but the fact of the matter is, privacy (with the onset of technology) is fast becoming a thing of the past... so don't be surprised if you get caught picking your nose. Thats being said, I'm a little thirsty. Can anyone loan me a dollar?
 
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