FYI.. It appears that Google licensed ALL of DigitalGlobe's imagery on an _exclusive_ basis for online presentation. So if i wanted to do something on a website, with DigitalGlobe's hi-res imagery, for example if the Google Maps framework isn't flexible enough, i cannot legally go around Google to license the image myself! I can imagine why Google did this - to prevent Microsoft,Mapquest etc. from licensing the same imagery in their webmapping frameworks - but the net effect is that ordinary people, NGOs and small companies are also cut off.
This seems to skirt the edge of 'do no evil'. I thought it was interesting and friendly, that DigitalGlobe openly referred me to their competitor GeoEye (Space Imaging Ikonos/OrbImage OrbView). In this particular case, DigitalGlobe (QuickBird) has the only hi-res cloud-free image in existence for my part of the world (Hawaii). So i cannot go to any other source. -Ben -----Original Message----- From: DigitalGlobe Customer Service [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 5:13 AM To: Ben Discoe Subject: RE: Licensing image catalog ID 10100100018E8E01 Hi Ben, You are correct in what you say below. Google has signed an exclusive agreement with us to display our full-resolution imagery on the web. There are a few exceptions - for instance media and state government - but this is a rule that is even stated in our licenses. If you intend to use the imagery on your website, I would suggest contacting GeoEye as they might be able to provide you with the data you seek. Best, Brock Brock Adam McCarty Sales Engineer Commercial Business Unit DigitalGlobe, Inc. 1601 Dry Creek Dr., #260 Longmont, CO 80503 Office: (303) 684-4323 Cell: (720) 470-7988 -----Original Message----- From: Ben Discoe [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 12:13 AM To: DigitalGlobe Customer Service Subject: RE: Licensing image catalog ID 10100100018E8E01 Hi Brock, > Our agreement with Google Earth does not allow for imagery to be > posted to the web with less than 10-meter resolution. That's a bit mysterious then. Using either Google Earth or Google Maps, one can easily zoom into Hawaii to sub-meter resolution. The imagery displayed on our part of the island is definitely the DigitalGlobe scene i mentioned (catalog ID 10100100018E8E01) at 0.6 meter resolution. For example, geocoding my house: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=46-4091+old+mamalahoa+hwy,+honokaa+H I+96727&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=20.054611,-155.507349&spn=0.004062,0.005611 You can see the high resolution, and at the bottom of the window it confirms "Imagery (C) 2006 DigitalGlobe". The exact same imagery appears in Google Earth. Could you possibly send me the price list? Thanks, Ben -----Original Message----- From: DigitalGlobe Customer Service [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13 PM To: Ben Discoe Subject: RE: Licensing image catalog ID 10100100018E8E01 Hi Ben, Thanks for the information below. I must have forgotten to attach the price list. Regardless, I was not aware of the intended use for the imagery. Our agreement with Google Earth does not allow for imagery to be posted to the web with less than 10-meter resolution. As such, I do not think our imagery is really going to meet your needs. As you are a non-profit, you might be able to convince Google to allow for this application. I do not have a contact at Google I work with so this might be a challenge to pull off. Best, Brock _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
