Google shuts down Gaia

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 28th November 2006
Comments (10) Stumble
"It's OUR earth" - Google has shut down the Gaia project, which reverse-engineered the company's Google Earth software.

"It's OUR earth" - Google has shut down the Gaia project, which reverse-engineered the company's Google Earth software.

Many of you are familiar with Google's mapping project, Google Earth. The software is a rather interesting way to wile away a work day (of course, nobody here would do that...ever...). However, there are definite limitations to it, many of which were fixed by the Gaia project. Now, Gaia has been shut down by a mere polite request from Google.

Gaia was an attempt to fix quite a few "issues" with Google Earth. First of all, Google's software was not open-source, whereas Gaia was. Second, Google's subscription model (for use with GPS devices) only allowed for Windows machines. Anyone hoping to run the GPS-enabled version of Google Earth that ran Linux, MacOS, FreeBSD, or other operating systems was simply out of luck.

Of course, Gaia was not in any way sanctioned by Google, and was developed by reverse-engineering the software. And so the authors of the project received a very polite request from Michael Jones, head of Google Earth, requesting that the software be removed. Sadly, it all came down to simple user rights - rights that Google couldn't give to the Gaia project, even if it wanted to.

Google Earth accesses the data that it displays by renting it from other companies, who provide the imaging satellites and other technologies. These companies have imposed strict rules on how Google can provide the data, and these rules are broken by Gaia. Google Earth's license to use the data was threatened, since it provided the framework that Gaia was able to exploit.

The letter from Mr. Jones was well-accepted by the open-source community and the team of devs responsible for the Gaia project. Since the group had in no way attempted to harm the Google Earth project, Gaia has now been discontinued.

If you're curious to read the entire letter that Mr. Jones sent to the team, you can find it right on Gaia's main site. If only other companies wrote so nicely...

Have you got a thought on the shut-down? Tell us about it in our forums.
Quote Herbicide 28th November 2006, 15:11
Politeness from a multinational company? I'm shocked.

Who else is waiting for google to make them an offer?

- H.
Quote samkiller42 28th November 2006, 16:37
At least there is some small amount of politeness outside the bit-tech community.

Sam
Quote herbs 28th November 2006, 16:44
Well assuming the person is from google maps etc then I think he did his company proud, no threating letter like the arses from RIAA, no bullying just a request. Now whether he would have been a hard arse if they didnt agree who knows.
This could have been a PR disaster for google but it's been handled fairly well.
Quote BioSniper 28th November 2006, 16:44
Quite refreshing for a large corporation to actually ask someone in a seemingly level headed manner to do something instead of law suits.

Perhaps this guy will go on to get a job with google? who knows!
Quote trailblazer 28th November 2006, 17:33
The letter was polite, professional and respectful, I think it was well handled, I liked the engineer to engineer approach.
Quote Drexial 28th November 2006, 19:04
yeah i was thinking that a follow up letter with a job offer would be the next step. i mean they were doing it to satisfy a wider user base then google earth already has. its an absolute assurance of customers. in terms of business thats a no brainer.
Quote Nexxo 28th November 2006, 19:11
Beautiful application of psychology. Establish a relationship, establish a basis of trust, make a demand but also explain the reasoning behind it. Finish off with reinforcing the relationship and trust.

Moreover, it is so obviously the sensible and mature way of handling things, fitting of Google's "Don't Be Evil" motto. If only all business would work this way...
Quote DougEdey 28th November 2006, 19:44
I feel like pink.
Quote mattthegamer463 28th November 2006, 20:52
Quote:
Originally Posted by Micheal Jones
The kindness through which Google has made the wonder of our planet available to more than 100 million users around the world is now threatened
-- not by a menacing and fierce business competitor -- but by you.


Can't you see? You've placed the world in jeopardy! You must stop before we are all killed! Please don't make me write another letter stating how serious this is.

I love his choice of words. Great fun to read, and very polite, yet assertive.
Quote Spaceraver 29th November 2006, 17:22
I like google even more after this... they dont threaten people, they ask... nicely put by the engineer in question... after all... it's their software... if i "broke" NTFS or something like that i would go to jail
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