Information on the new google feed. Tell me what you think.
Below is the Google agreement. Please note the sections in red. "Without attribution" means they can show the listing but not you. Today, they allow consumers to find you. Tomorrow, will they? Also, the terms "Google services" and "services by Google" are so vague, they might allow Google to provide the listing, with no control by you, to third parties as a "service."
To post or not to post is not an easy issue. What is your feedback? Certainly you want great exposure for your listings. But do you want third parties using your data and intellectrual property to attract consumers so they can refer them to you? What if Google sent the listings to Yahoo, which then sent the leads to its partner Prudential? Are there liabilities to you and to your seller if the listing information displays anywhere and everywhere? If we exercise no control, do we turn ourselves into a "utility" where we bear the risks while others gain the profits?
Or, am I creating a tempest in a teapot? Afterall, Google is not doing these things today. We could participate today, until and if the rules are changed. On the other hand, if we help Google or any other portal to become a real estate "gateway," would we still be able to pull out?
What are your thoughts? I will post the results.
By the way, if you are posting your listings yourself, are you paying attention to the terms?
/http://webmail.rmxtalk.com/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbase.google.com%2Fsupport%2Fbin%2Fanswer.py%3Fanswer%3D62594%26ctx%3Dsibling
Your Rights/
Google claims no ownership or control over any Content submitted, posted
or displayed by you on or through Google Base. You or a third party
licensor, as appropriate, retain all patent, trademark and copyright to
any Content you submit, post or display on or through Google Base and
you are responsible for protecting those rights, as appropriate. 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. This license terminates when
such Content is deleted from the Google service to which you originally
submitted. Google reserves the right to syndicate Content submitted,
posted or displayed by you on or through Google Base and use that
Content in connection with any of the services offered by Google. You
represent and warrant that you hold all necessary rights (including
without limitation any copyright, trademark, patent, publicity or other
rights) in the Content.
REMAX Allegiance
Bob Blunt
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