Google Adds Licensing To Advanced Search

Terms of usage can be included as part of an advanced query performed on Google, and follows a similar move by Yahoo in recent months.

Respected law professor Lawrence Lessig reported on a change to Google’s advanced search, one that makes it much more useful for people searching for software licensed for particular usage:

At an event for potential donors to Creative Commons last night, a representative from Google announced that Google’s “advanced search” would now allow results to be filtered by Creative Commons licenses.

On Google’s advanced search page, a drop-down box next to Usage Rights lets users get results that aren’t filtered by license, allow some forms of re-use, or can be freely modified, adapted or built upon.

Yahoo has a search page specifically focused on finding content available under the Creative Commons license. Lessig commented on Yahoo’s recognition of the potential content has when licensed under useful terms:

Ever since I had the chance to meet with the top Yahoo! executives over a year ago, I’ve known that Yahoo!’s future depends upon building creator-approved freedoms. Their joining with Flickr! is just part of this overall, creator-driven strategy. That meeting convinced me that Yahoo! understood more than most the growth and innovation that can be built through these creativity communities.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.