Google Image Search Plays Nice with Creative Commons for Bloggers; eWeek.com, 7/10/09

Clint Boulton via eWeek.com; Google Image Search Plays Nice with Creative Commons for Bloggers:

"Google adds a usage rights tool in its Image Search to help users find images protected by Creative Commons and other fair use licenses. The move should help the search engine giant fortify its position as a company that respects copyright holders as it seeks to fend off a Justice Department inquiry over its Google Book Search deal...

Naturally, the Creative Commons representatives were thrilled with Google's new Image Search tool. Every time a technology provider implements technology that helps uphold Creative Commons licenses, it lends greater validity to the cause to foster fair use.

"This is a huge step forward for the future of image search on the Web, so congratulations to the Google team on another great CC implementation!" Creative Commons rep Fred Benenson wrote in a blog.

The move is a huge step for Google, which has not always endeared itself to copyright holders in the past and may soon have to defend itself against a formal inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department over Google Book Search, its sweeping plan to digitize the world's books and make them accessible to users and libraries over the Internet for fees."

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/Google-Image-Search-Plays-Nice-With-Creative-Commons-For-Bloggers-564223/