Google touts new features in desktop tool

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It isn't so black and white

Perhaps Microsoft AND Google are bad?
You may recall the outcry when Microsoft announced a new "feature" which would be a part of XP (as then unreleased). Web pages would be scanned for keywords and then Microsoft's code would insert new hyperlinks from those words to related adverts paid for by Microsoft "partners". In effect Microsoft would take money from people who wanted to invade other people's web sites and use them as platforms for adverts. Needless to say the uproar was immense and Microsoft never went ahead with ENABLING this feature - I ask, did they ever take it out? This is an example of a true invasion of privacy. Providing free "snippets" of published works is actually within copyright laws - you can quote small samples of a work as long as it is accredited. Authors may realise that a small snippet from one of their works delivered to N users in response to a query, actually results in the full work being bought and paid for. Whereas in the case of the Microsoft "feature" the functionality was parasitic and returned nothing to the owner of the web site it had modified without permission.

Certainly Google are taking a few leaves out of Microsoft's book and its interesting to hear the growing chorus of redmond squeling as Microsoft people find themselves on the receiving end of the very tactics they shill for whenthey are employed by Microsoft. What goes round, comes round. Duck and cover, Redmond. It's your turn.

Posted by: whisperycat   Posted on: 11/04/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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