GOOG CEO says "Don't Be evil" is misunderstood

This is interesting. Take a look at this story in which Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, says the company's mantra of "Don't be evil" is often misunderstood.

Reuters' Eric Auchard: Google CEO talks of good, evil and monopoly fears

In an on-stage interview with writer Ken Auletta of the New Yorker magazine, Schmidt said "Don't be evil" is meant to provoke internal debate over what constitutes ethical corporate behavior, rather than representing an absolute moral position.

"We don't have an 'Evilmeter' we can sort of apply -- you know -- what is good and what is evil," Schmidt said. . .

What is there to misunderstand? I would have thought determining what is good and what is evil is quite clear.

Mr Schmidt seems to be saying that being "evil" is open to debate.

Maybe GOOG will adopt the following changes:

- Don't be quite so evil

- Don't be really really evil

- Don't be evil-ish

Anyone have any other suggestions? (Or moral pointers?)