Google Wins Nude Thumbnail Legal Battle

eldavojohn writes "Google is currently fighting many fronts in its ability to show small images returned in a search from websites. Most recently, Google won the case against them in which they were displaying nude thumbnails of a photographer's work from his site. Prior to this, Google was barred from displaying copyrighted content, even when linking it to the site (owner) from its search results. The verdict: "Saying the District Court erred, the San Francisco-based appeals court ruled that Google could legally display those images under the fair use doctrine of copyright law." This sets a rather hefty precedence in a search engine's ability to blindly serve content safely under fair use."

And that sound...

[adona1]

is millions of 13 year olds cheering, as their first taste of pr0n surfing remains within their grasp.

Re:So this case has nothing to do with nudity?

[The Real Toad King]

It's a strategy the /. editors are using trying to get more people to RTFA.

I'm not falling for it though.

Hey, where are the links?

[Tatisimo]

In a past story, we got links to all kinds of piracy websites, but this time we get no links to pr0n... Am I missing something? Since when is linking to pr0n any more taboo than linking to piracy?

I don't understand what the big deal is

[MutantHamster]

I mean, I don't know about you, but my thumbnails are always nude? Since when is this an issue?

Re:I don't understand what the big deal is

[treeves]

Same here. I've never used fingernail polish either.

Re:What happened to robots.txt?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd Google it, but I might end up with all these pornographic pictures... :^)

Isn't that the point of a search engine?

Defeat!

[Harmonious Botch]

But when you try to upgrade they take half of everthing you own.

Re:And that sound...

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, that sound is what millions of 13-year-olds are doing after hearing of this news...

(...eewwwww...)

Re:Sorry, no way.

[snarlydwarf]

You, sir, seem to have never watched CSI: modern computers (at least on TV) have infinite resolution.

Re:yes

[flyingsquid]

Personally, I don't really see what the fuss is all about. I go around with my thumbnails uncovered all of the time (even though they are a bit chewed-up) and I don't care if people can see my nude thumbnails on Google or not.

Re:Sorry, no way.

[ignavus]

A thumbnail doesn't give you the full detail of a full-sized image. Try to scale it up and you get pixellated garbage.

Been trying that with nude thumbnails, have you?

Is this really surprising?

[katterjohn]

Judges prefer using Google to get porn too!

Re:yes

[Anonymous Coward]

This thread is useless without pics.

Re:Precedent. With a T.

[codeButcher]

You forgot the Moronic President from your list. Not that any one country has a monopoly on that, so I didn't bother to provide a link....