Google getting lawsuit threats isn't all that unheard of in recent times, and now they have come under fire for Google Earth. In particular, the Sky layer functionality of the program has upset a former Google contractor, who claims that the giant stole the idea from him and used it without permission.

Jonathan Cobb has filed a suit against Google demanding damages of $25 million for their supposed transgressions. While he isn't claiming Google stole code from him, he asserts that the 'idea' he laid out was his and his alone. True or not, he seems to be facing an uphill battle. An idea alone does not make a lawsuit with most cases of this nature usually having a patent at their core. This one does not, leading me to believe that Google will probably win out.