Reusing models
ScienceAintSoBadGuy
If I reuse stuff from the 3D Warehouse, are their restrictions? Fees?
I believe some things are unrestricted, but how do I tell?
SnowTiger
The best thing would be for you to read and interpret the "Terms of
Service" (see Link at bottom of this and most if not all Google
pages).
Basically, if you can download it .. you can use it. However, there
"might" be some restrictions if using for commercial profit or the
like. IMO.
Matty
appears to be that nobody really knows. Here's the URL:
http://groups.google.com/group/google-mapmaker/browse_thread/thread/9154f331cfe14ccb?hl=en#
Google Guide Bruce
We're not at liberty to dispense legal advice, so SnowTiger's
suggestion to review the Terms of Service is the best course of
action.
Happy Sketching.
Bruce
On Nov 30, 11:42 am, Matty <matthew.schm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to get this question answered as well. The short answer
> appears to be that nobody really knows. Here's the URL:
>
Matty
researcher, I have found it surprisingly difficult to acquire clear
information on end user rights for Google Warehouse models, especially
from any authoritative source. Google Guide Bruce's response is the
closest I've come; however, the response leaves a lot to be desired.
My request is that usage terms are made more clear for end users in
the TOS.
I do not think it is unreasonable to expect a clear response from a
Google employee on this issue. I believe that if Google provides the
Google Warehouse service, it is to be expected that they provide some
clear guidelines for end users. I have reviewed the TOS many times and
have delved into previous versions of the TOS. The problem is that the
newer version of the TOS is more ambiguous than the previous version
and that reviewing the TOS does not provide the end user with a clear
understanding of licensee rights. Indeed, Google Guide Bruce's
response of not being able to provide legal advice could be
interpreted to imply that an end user must secure some sort of legal
counsel in order to be able to understand what his or her rights are
under the TOS. This seems to be rather onerous at best.
Looking to licenses like Creative Commons, GPL, BSD, MIT and others,
it seems that the TOS for using the Google Warehouse could do a better
job of informing the user what his or her rights are in terms of using
models and creating derivative works.
Simply stated, I would very much like to be able to utilize and
contribute to the the 3D warehouse. But in order to do so, a clear
understanding of my rights is crucial.
The previous version laid things out VERY clearly. There is no mention
of the four very clear licensing terms from the previous TOS in the
new TOS. See below.
From the previous TOS:
Users have "[...] a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual
license to exercise the rights in the Content, as stated below:
1. to reproduce the Content;
2. to create and reproduce derivative works of the Content;
3. to display publicly and distribute copies of the Content;
4. to display publicly and distribute copies of derivative works of
the content."
From the current TOS:
"11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in
Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.
By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a
perpetual, sublicensable, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and
non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish,
publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content or
derivative works thereof which you submit, post or display on or
through, the Services."
I know you guys are a small team and I really appreciate any help you
can provide. I do believe that you would be doing the whole Sketchup
and Google Warehouse community a favor if the TOS were made more
clear.
On Dec 4 2009, 10:40 am, Google Guide Bruce <brucep+...@google.com>
wrote:
SnowTiger
I understand your frustration with this matter.
However, as one who has dealt with and interpreted law for many years,
I completely understand and appreciate Google Guide Bruce's response.
He cannot legally provide an interpretation because he is not Google's
Lawyer. In fact, he is probably not anyone's lawyer and therefore
would break terms of his own employment to do so.
On the other hand, nothing prevents you from taking ANY website's
Terms of Service (etc) to any Lawyer of your choice, to obtain a
"Legal Opinion" of the subject legal document's interpretation.
Matty
interpretation. I'm asking that the TOS be made more clear so that end
users can be aware of their rights.
> On the other hand, nothing prevents you from taking ANY website's
> Terms of Service (etc) to any Lawyer of your choice, to obtain a
> "Legal Opinion" of the subject legal document's interpretation.
You're correct.
However, I think it's completely unreasonable to be forced to resort
to legal counsel simply to be able to understand if the user has the
ability to reproduce content, create and reproduce derivative works,
display publicly and distribute copies of the content, and display
publicly and distribute copies of derivative works of the content.
Providing those simple 4 phrases in the TOS is pro-user and would
increase transparency greatly.