Volume IV

Issue : 7: April 6, 2006

• Shaw Sued by U.S. Competitor over Vetoed TV Ad
• Good News in the World of Patents for Google Earth
• Stem Cell Research Opponents Enjoined From Violating Copyright
• Illinois Court Tough on Wi-Fi Bandit
• Ontario Judge Concludes Time Spent on Research Excessive in Electronic Age
• Legality of Internet Archive at Issue
• Travel Websites Sued over Hotel Occupancy Taxes
• Gratis Internet Sued for Massive Privacy Violations
• U.S. Federal Court Finds Use of Competitors Marks as Keywords in Online Advertising not Trademark Infringement
• UK Politician Wins Internet Defamation Lawsuit
• B.C. Court Awards Damages and Permanent Injunction in Cyberlibel Lawsuit

Home > Volume IV > Issue 7: April 6, 2006 > Good News in the World of Patents for Google Earth

Good News in the World of Patents for Google Earth

A pre A preliminary order released in late March by a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts favours Google in a patent infringement suit dealing with its popular Google Earth geographical mapping program. Virginia-based Skyline Software Systems launched a patent infringement suit in May 2004 against California-based Keyhole, claiming that Keyhole’s 3D terrain imaging technology violated Skyline’s U.S. Patent No. 6,496,189. Google acquired Keyhole in October 2004 and employed its technology as the basis for Google Earth released in June 2005. In January 2006, Skyline sought a preliminary injunction to shut down Google Earth and preclude further sales until the dispute is resolved. In the recent Markman hearing ruling to construe the meaning of the patent, Judge Woodlock sided with Google’s interpretation of the patent terms on several occasions, only adopting Skyline’s version on two uncontested instances.

Google Earth “combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search” allowing users to explore the entire planet from their desktop. The software employs streaming technology to access terabytes of aerial and satellite imagery, including 3D depictions of several large cities. Users have embraced the software project, which may be used to ascertain driving directions, plan a trip, or search for schools, parks, and local businesses.

Google offers commercial versions of the software for an annual subscription fee in addition to its popular free non-commercial version. Google Earth’s release was an effort to capture a dominant market share in the mapping services industry. However, Google is not alone and competes with Microsoft’s Virtual Earth, Amazon’s A9, and of course, Skyline’s TerraExplorer.

A trial to determine whether Google’s technology indeed infringes the Skyline patent is expected to start in late 2006.

For additional information, visit:

http://news.com.com/2102-1032_3-6056716.html

For Skyline’s U.S. Patent No. 6,496,189, visit:

http://tinyurl.com/lme4f