18 February 2008

Google sued over Earth's Sky layer

Search engine provider Google is being sued by a former contract worker who claims it stole his idea for Google Sky, one of Google Earth's most popular layers.

According to a lawsuit filed last week in Atlanta, Jonathan Cobb is seeking $25 million in damages.

Mr Cobb began working for Google in 2006 as a contractor hired through WorkforceLogic USA.

He claims that he disclosed the idea for Google Sky, a feature added to Google Earth last August, in an internal email discussion group when he worked for the company in early 2006.

The application allows users to navigate through stars and galaxies through a virtual telescope.

According to Information Week, Mr Cobb alleges that Google took his idea "despite the fact that [he], when making application for contractor work with Defendant WorkforceLogic USA, made disclosure of his previously developed Sky idea and concept".

The complaint states: "Defendant Google took the concepts and ideas originally presented by plaintiff and, without any notice or credit being extended to plaintiff, used them as its own.

"Such actions represent a violation of defendant Google's publicised corporate motto 'Do No Evil'."

Neither Google nor WorkforceLogic were immediately available to respond to the issue.

In November last year, Google faced a similar patent infringement lawsuit, having been sued by Northeastern University over technology it utilised in its core web search system, the Times of India reports.

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