Google has won its appeal in the US over the displaying of thumbnail images from an adult website used on its site.Pornographic magazine makers Perfect 10 brought the case late in 2004 and won the original ruling, after claiming Google's use of the images undermined image sales to mobiles.
Perfect 10 also suggested that Google's thumbnails encouraged site users to view the pictures full-size on other web pages that didn't have permission to use them.
But the US federal appeals court revealed that Google was not infringing copyright and could not be held liable for the actions of users who visit sites showing illegal copies of the pictures.
The three-judge panel suggested the lower court, which granted the original ruling, made a mistake in granting the preliminary injunction, arguing the "fair use" under copyright law of the display of the thumbnails.
Google general counsel Kent Walker said: "We are delighted that the court affirmed long-standing principles of fair use, holding that Google's image search is highly transformative by creating new value for consumers."
"Google services respect intellectual property and help people around the world find what they're looking for."
Meanwhile, there is more good news for Google fans, after recent reports revealed that co-founder Sergey Brin got married earlier this month.
The San Jose Mercury News revealed that Mr Brin wed biotech entrepreneur Anne Wojcicki in a secret ceremony in the Bahamas.
