Google Base: Preparing for the worst?
How can you explain something that "stores everything" and still make sense? Google has tried by offering a few examples and elaborating on them -- recipes, items for sale, etc. -- but for many people, that can only add to the confusion.
You can describe Google Base, simply and accurately, as a service that lets you submit, categorize and describe individual web pages Web site owners could grow angry because Google is making money on their content.that you own, or any content you provide. Along with categorization, you can upload pictures and describe content to the best of your ability by assigning it parameters. This effectively adds a "human touch" rather than letting Google computers make guesses as to the meaning of your data.
Google Search, in contrast, sends out armies of robots that scour the internet for content, and takes all the data it can find. Based on that data, it categorizes web pages automatically by what it thinks the site is about.
Could this be the beginnings of "Google Search 2.0"?
Copyright issues may arise, just as they have with Google Print service. Web site owners could grow angry because Google is making money on their content and only offering an "opt-out" service (robots.txt). Google Base/Google Sitemaps would give Google a head-start in an "opt-in" alternative should search engines, as we know them, become illegal.
You agree to comply with the then-current specifications provided by Google to enable proper delivery and display of the Content. If the Content submitted via the Data Feed contains URLs (or equivalent thereof) that you are submitting to Google, you agree that Google has the right to access, index, cache or crawl the URL(s) (or equivalent thereof), the Content itself, or any portion thereof (without regard to any robots.txt file which does not authorize crawling) in connection with Google's authorized use of the Content.
By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through Google services which are intended to be available to the general public, you grant Google a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, and otherwise use, with or without attribution such Content on Google services solely for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting Google services.
By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using Google Base, you will not: ... upload, post, email or transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right of any party, unless you are the owner of such rights or have the permission of the owner to post such Content;
By submitting Content to Google Base, you authorize Google to use your trademarks, service marks, trade names, proprietary logos, domain names and any other source or business identifiers in connection with Google's authorized distribution of the Content.
Many Google services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions on the service. The manner, mode and extent of advertising by Google on its services are subject to change. You agree that Google shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you as a result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such advertisers on Google services.
If search engines never become illegal and continue to operate as they do currently, this is just another "cool" service that gives content providers even more exposure to their data. Hopefully that's how it stays!