AutoCAD Civil 3D

[#1]

Hi All.

I have recently been wondering if we are allowed to use elevation data
gathered from Google Earth via the Autodesk's provided facility in our
commercial projects.

I wrote to the Autodesk guys and got this response:
"The 'AutoCAD Google Earth Extension' was developed using a public
application programming interface available when every copy of Google
Earth is installed. As far as the usage of Google's data, you'll need
to contact them directly..."

This worried me as I have taken a reasonable look into Google's Terms
and Conditions for Google Earth and its a tad vague. It talks about not
being allowed to download Bulk amounts of Data which would come down to
a judges interpretation of the word 'bulk'. It could mean 100 points,
1000 points or 10000000000 points, who knows?

Did anyone else realise that they may be using Google's data without
permission assuming that if its available in Autodesk's products that it
must be ok?

Dave

[#2]

Yes Dave, this has been a bone of contention for a number of years. The
crummy part is that Google refuses to address the issue directly.

http://www.civil3d.com/2007/04/license-and-registration-please/

I asked both Google and Autodesk as part of writing Mastering C3D 2008
where the use of the data fell, and got a series of non-statements on
the subject from both.

It's a sticky wicket.

JW

[#3]

Hi,

Which suing will occur first?

1 Google sues user for downloading and using data outside the terms of
it's vague user conditions.

2 Client sues user for incorrect design based on inappropriate reliance
on accuracy of Google data.

I'd have my money on the second one.

James:

On another note. "a sticky wicket" is a cricket term. Does it have a
USA connotation?


Regards,


Laurie Comerford

James Wedding wrote:
> Yes Dave, this has been a bone of contention for a number of years. The
> crummy part is that Google refuses to address the issue directly.
>
> http://www.civil3d.com/2007/04/license-and-registration-please/
>
> I asked both Google and Autodesk as part of writing Mastering C3D 2008
> where the use of the data fell, and got a series of non-statements on
> the subject from both.
>
> It's a sticky wicket.
>
> JW

[#4]

When he was a kid, playing croquet while eating a sucker.

Bill



James:

On another note. "a sticky wicket" is a cricket term. Does it have a
USA connotation?


Regards,


Laurie Comerford

[#5]

Hi Laurie,

or

3 Google sues Autodesk for breaching its Terms of Conditions.

4 Google's partners who provided the actual data sue Google for
allowing the download of their precious data.

I'm not so sure about the Client suing the user as most people who use
the download facility realise its only very approximate and use it only
for visual purposes.

My money would be on number 4 followed closely by number 3.
Its a shame that the world is so litigious nowadays.

Dave

On 29/05/2009 22:03, Laurie wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Which suing will occur first?
>
> 1 Google sues user for downloading and using data outside the terms of
> it's vague user conditions.
>
> 2 Client sues user for incorrect design based on inappropriate reliance
> on accuracy of Google data.
>
> I'd have my money on the second one.
>
> James:
>
> On another note. "a sticky wicket" is a cricket term. Does it have a
> USA connotation?
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
> Laurie Comerford
>
> James Wedding wrote:
>> Yes Dave, this has been a bone of contention for a number of years. The
>> crummy part is that Google refuses to address the issue directly.
>>
>> http://www.civil3d.com/2007/04/license-and-registration-please/
>>
>> I asked both Google and Autodesk as part of writing Mastering C3D 2008
>> where the use of the data fell, and got a series of non-statements on
>> the subject from both.
>>
>> It's a sticky wicket.
>>
>> JW

[#6]

or



5. Google sues Google for breaching its Terms of Conditions (see Google Sketchup terrain feature)



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