If a search engine lists it, it's public domain ??

[sarettah]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...l/12922865.htm

Astronomers wrangle over Google research

The discovery of a new planetoid has set off a bitter feud between American and Spanish scientists while raising questions about the ethics of Internet research.

The dispute began in July when Michael Brown, a professor at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, discovered a new planetoid in the solar system known as the Kuiper Belt.

Days before announcing his discovery, however, a group of Spanish astronomers claimed the new planetoid.

American researchers said they learned that the Spanish scientists had discovered where Brown was aiming a Chilean telescope by using an Internet search engine.

Scientist José Luís Ortiz says he and his researchers did nothing wrong and the data found using the Google search engine should be considered public and thus free to use.