Google, Microsoft Sued Over 3D Map Technology

Microsoft and Google have been sued by a Louisiana company accusing the two tech giants of violating a patent around 3D mapping technology.

Transcenic Inc. alleges that the two companies inappropriately acquired technology that lets them map in three dimensions, according to Bloomberg.

Google's Street View and Microsoft's Streetside programs let users see a 3D rendering of places in the world rather than just satellite imagery from above. The suit also names AOL and MapQuest as defendants, for its 360 View technology.

That alleged misuse “has injured Transcenic and Transcenic is entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate for such infringement,” the company said in its filing.

Google's Street View has come under legal fire before, with a judge recently ruling that the company could be sued for illegally gathering data over unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Google Street View has also been barred from filming in India.

Comments

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

04:34 PM on 07/06/2011

And why didn't they figure this out 2 years ago when the first 3d maps were coming out?

[MaxPowerXP]

12:09 AM on 07/06/2011

Patent Troll of the Day

[Ron Willison]

10:23 PM on 07/05/2011

Bummer.. Google Earth is my favorite program. I'l be lost without it.

[reddrn63]

09:38 PM on 07/05/2011

I do wish that not only Americans but others in this grand world of ours would get just a little intelligent. Those little and big things hovering above earth dispatched by numerous countries can actually tell the color and what type of shoe you are wearing way before Google and others.

[tob221]

08:23 PM on 07/05/2011

Don't companies like Google or Microsoft get sued weekly for something, or even daily.

[dr-steve-pesyk]

07:10 PM on 07/05/2011

Need more info on this in order to make a ruling here...

[ramblingjohnny]

05:51 PM on 07/05/2011

Nothing to see every big Internet corporation get sued all the time by patent trolls probably all in the same Texas courtroom.

[clausnitzer]

05:07 PM on 07/05/2011

Anyone ever watched the TED talk about Photosynth? It's a way to aggregate all of our combined on line photos of the world to create 3d mapping images. VERY, VERY cool stuff. I'll provide a link below:
http://hubski.com/pub?id=924

[SickHippie]

07:25 PM on 07/05/2011

Hi spammer!

[clausnitzer]

10:43 PM on 07/06/2011

Hi SickHippie. Not a spammer. You should watch the TED talk, the technology "Photosynth" that is discussed is really fascinating.

[Mapper99]

04:46 PM on 07/05/2011

Crazy! I can see why though. Take a look here: http://www.streetviewfunny.com - you would sue too.

[tob221]

08:22 PM on 07/05/2011

Oo come on your always being watched, if its google street view or anyone near by with the camera phone. If your doing something stupid or trying to be funny someone is probably filming you.

[FredDerf]

04:22 PM on 07/05/2011

While I know nothing about Transcenic Inc technology I do know that the Defense Mapping Agency has been able to produce 3D maps for many a year. The first Tomahawk Cruse Missiles used 3D mapping before there was GPS targeting.

[JHenzi]

04:20 PM on 07/05/2011

Seems silly that a Google search doesn't show this company at all... so what exactly did they lose out on?