Maryland and Virginia Real Estate and Homes Blog

GOOGLE.  FRIEND OR FOE?

A very thoughtful article by Lisa Hill about Google’s ongoing process of making every word ever written available to the world in Google search, inspires this opposite view. 

BACKGROUND.  The library was often my best friend.  Growing up in Washington, DC many years ago gave me access to many wonderful institutions.  The Public Library in my neighborhood was my “hang out”.  However, hop on a street car or take a long walk and I could visit the Library of Congress, walk the stacks, read, research, learn and enjoy books on any subject of interest.  Appreciating my love of learning and wanting to keep me closer to home, my parents sacrificed to buy a World Book Encyclopedia which, I believe I read every word A-Z.  Reading was truly my hobby and access to these institutions inspired tours to the Museums along the Mall between the U.S. Capitol and the White House. 

ACCESS AND COST.   Clearly I would not have had access to the books in my life if I had lived somewhere else.  My summers were spent at my grandparents’ farm in North Carolina where learning was from public school texts and my grandfather’s lovingly provided lessons.  How limiting is that??  Books that I could select and read by the hundreds would have cost our family $Thousands of Dollars over the years.  We were poor.  Without the libraries in my life, I would have been denied the literary adventures I enjoyed.  However, today, with computer access, a child has access to the world of knowledge heretofore only available to those of us with library access and that is limited to the budget and selections of the local library managers and often local politicians.  Who pays for publications on Google?  Advertisers or subscribers.  However, at the average cost of books, $20-$40-$120, per copy, depending on whether fiction, non-fiction, reference or text, the cost of books alone takes them out of the hands of billions of citizens of the world. 

Access to these institutions helped develop not only a thirst for knowledge but also inspired a lifelong talent for research which served me well throughout school years, raising children, government service and success in several business ventures including real estate brokerage. 

HOW MANY CHILDREN GROW UP WITH ACCESS TO SUCH MAGIC AT THE END OF A STREET CAR RIDE?  However, today, the same adventure is available to young and old on Google.  Not many, until GOOGLE. 

In 1997, Google changed the Internet world.  In 1994 when I discovered the Internet, I knew my business would change and I couldn’t wait to “get on line”, put up a web page to advertise my real estate services to prospective home buyers around the world.  Indeed, I purposefully targeted relocating home buyers around the world in 1995.  It worked then and it works to today.  Google has been a good friend since 1998 when I realized that I better learn to “speak Google” or be left in the dust. 

GOOGLE BOOKS -A few years ago, Google embarked on an ambitious attempt to index, digitize and make available to the world, books and papers in and out of print.  Google probably over reached by including many copyright protected publications in it’s “library”.  The copyright owners sued and several years later a monetary agreement has been reached whereby copyright owners and publishing houses will be paid to enable Google to publish these works, many of which would be unreachable to millions of people who, with access, would love to have access to these publications. 

Enjoy A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Google.  I wonder what Shakespear would think.

Publications covered by the agreement include:

1. In-copyright and in-print books
2. In-copyright but out-of-print books
3. Out-of-copyright books

RESPECT FOR COPYRIGHT OWNERS -As the owner of over 100 Copyright registrations, I have the utmost respect for the right of the copyright owner to decide where and when their intellectual property can be published and used and by whom.  As many ActiveRain friends know, I protect my copyrights vigorously and relentlessly.  However, to date, not one of my competitors who has taken one of my copyright protected maps and used them on their own web page has ever asked me for permission.  No doubt, they would know the answer would be “no”, “no thank you” or “Hell no”.  So, rather than create or purchase their own map image, they take and use maps belonging to me.  Of course I pursue damages.  Why would I not?  However, I don’t pretend to be developing a classical library of maps available to the world in a repository of great works.  I believe Google is doing just that with many publication otherwise not available. 

IMO, GOOGLE IS THE WORLD’S LIBRARY.  Yes.  Anyone, young or old, with a computer connection, will be able to access some of the great literary works no longer available in the neighborhood library, if there is a neighborhood library, many of which have closed due to funding problems. 

Will Google benefit?  Of course, and why shouldn’t they?  This project will bring the works of literary giants to students and adult readers around the world who would never have had an opportunity to read. 

I applaud Google for their ambition, their innovation, their service and their success.