Questions

[jonathan3000]

I have a website that features both adsense for search/custom search
and google search apis for images and video.

My first question is: Since the results for images and video are
displayed on my website without any redirect, am I responsible for any
illegal content (in Adsense's eyes) that a user may search for, such
as hate related images or pornography?

Second question: I am aware that the search apis are designed for
content based pages. The content I feature on pages featuring the
search apis include links to my official blog and energy usage
statistics for my users to see (as my site is focused on making users
aware of their energy consumption while they are online). Would this
constitute a no content page?

[jgeerdes [AJAX APIs "Guru"]]

I would say that the energy usage statistics you mention would
probably constitute original content that does not originate from
Google, so you would be okay. But I am by no means a legal expert; so
if you have any doubts whatsoever, I would recommend contacting a
lawyer.

Jeremy R. Geerdes
Effective website design & development
Des Moines, IA

For more information or a project quote:
http://jgeerdes.home.mchsi.com
jgee...@mchsi.com

If you're in the Des Moines, IA, area, check out Debra Heights
Wesleyan Church!

[jonathan3000]

> I would say that the energy usage statistics you mention would
> probably constitute original content that does not originate from
> Google, so you would be okay. But I am by no means a legal expert; so
> if you have any doubts whatsoever, I would recommend contacting a
> lawyer.

Thank you. I was thinking along the same lines. What are your ideas on
my first question regarding the illegal content?

[jgeerdes [AJAX APIs "Guru"]]

I would say that

[jgeerdes [AJAX APIs "Guru"]]

Sorry, the cat hit the send button!

Re: your responsibility for illegal content and pornography, etc., I
really don't know what to say. Technically, I believe the TOU could
be interpreted to say that you are responsible for such things, but
then again, you also have two things going for you:

1) As long as your site is not related to illegal content and/or
pornography, etc., your users will likely steer clear of searching for
such things, just like people don't go looking for shoes in a
furniture store.

2) Since there is ultimately no way that you can control how the end
user will utilize your application, I suspect that even Google would
be hard pressed to hold you liable for uses which were clearly outside
your intended purposes, just like we don't hold the auto makers
responsible for all the people who use their cars to speed. The car
manufacturer built the vehicles assuming that they would be used for
legitimate purposes; it was the driver who decided to break the law.

Again, if you have any doubts whatsoever, you should consult a lawyer,
but I think you'll be okay as long as you're not encouraging people to
search for inappropriate things with the rest of your content.