Thank you for your quick reply. I will definitely add the 'Powered by:' text above the logos thoughout the program. As far as the intermixing goes, I may simply add separate dropdowns that will allow the user to choose between search results from each engine.
Also, if the user happens to select a search as their 'wallpaper' (instead of a search result), the order the wallpapers appear from search engines is completely random. If that is against the TOS, I may have to do a bit of coding to make sure search result wallpapers appear in order, and aren't mixed with any other results. There is also a 'collage' mode, and images from those will appear scattered thoughout the screen.. I'm not sure how to enforce order on that. I'll do some digging to find a Google legal expert. In the mean time, the 'intermixing' view on the GUI can easily be fixed. On May 25, 6:12 pm, Jeremy Geerdes <[email protected]> wrote: > Whenever you deal with TOS issues, it's best to have a legal expert in the > mix. I am not one of these, and I don't know anyone on the group who is. So > if you have any doubt about any of the advice that you receive here, you will > want to consult someone who is. > > That said, I see a couple of issues with your use of the Google Image Search > API. > > First, you mentioned that the search functionality itself is free, but users > will be expected to pay for the managing portion of the app. I don't think > this is going to be a problem, BUT you will need to make absolutely clear > what the users are paying for. > > Second, the TOS require very specific branding - "powered by Google" - to be > displayed in proximity to any Google results. Simply displaying the logo > could be construed as insufficient. > > And finally, the one show-stopper, so to speak. Section 1.4 of the Image > Search API TOS explicitly prohibit changing the result order, intermixing of > Google search results with results obtained from other sources, or even > intermixing other generic content with Google search results such that this > extra content appears to be part of Google's results. In other words, if > you're going to search multiple engines, you will need to separate at least > the Google results out from all the rest. > > These are just three issues that jumped out at me from your screenshots. > There may be others if we were allowed to dig into the code and UI. You will > definitely want to address these issues, and probably consult a legal expert > to ensure compliance with other terms. > > Jeremy R. Geerdes > Generally Cool Guy > Des Moines, IA > > For more information or a project quote: > [email protected] > > If you're in the Des Moines, IA, area, check out Debra Heights Wesleyan > Church! > > On May 25, 2011, at 4:32 PM, Joshua Pilkington wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > I am developing an application for Windows that is a wallpaper manager/ > > changer. I plan on making this a for-profit commercial application. > > > One of the (out of many) features it has is that it can find images > > from Google/Yahoo/Bing/Flickr. I have API keys from each engine and > > use them in coordination. > > > I need to have some clarification on the branding/commercial use > > requirements from Google. > > > The implementation of the search (obtaining images) will be free - > > however the features of my product (wallpaper management, etc.) will > > require a license. > > > As far as branding goes, here are some screenshots of the search > > engine: > >http://www.joshuapilkington.com/Search.Engine.html > > > The search results in the two second views are mixed with those of > > other sources (Yahoo/Bing/Flickr). > > > Please let me know of any changes that I need to make, as the TOS is > > pretty vague and seems to change frequently. I need to make sure when > > I release this product that it isn't breaking any rules. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Google AJAX APIs" group. > > To post to this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/google-ajax-search-api?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google AJAX APIs" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/google-ajax-search-api?hl=en.
