Google Pays Couple $US1 For Street View Trespassing

In 2008, Pennsylvania couple Aaron and Christine Boring sued Google after a Street View car took pictures of their house. Now, they’ve been awarded $US1 and Google is officially labelled a trespasser.

The Borings (yes, yes, haw haw) live on a “clearly marked” private road near Pittsburgh, PA. Two years ago, they sued Google for invasion of privacy, claiming that Google’s intrusion somehow decreased their property value. All of their charges were dismissed except for one count which accused Google of trespassing on their property to take the picture. After all, Google had put up incontrovertible evidence on its own website that its street view car had driven up the tiny road.

And, hey, they won! Google has admitted to trespassing and will pay the Borings $US1. “This is one sweet dollar of vindication,” the Borings said. “Google could have just sent us an apology letter in the very beginning, but chose to try to prove they had a legal right to be on our land. We are glad they finally gave up.” These guys must be the world’s biggest Bing fans.

Google told TechCrunch, We are pleased that this lawsuit has finally ended with plaintiffs’ acknowledgment that they are entitled to only $US1.” So, everyone wins, except for all the Borings’ friends who will get lost every time they try to go to their house now that it’s not on Street view. Here’s an old screen cap, to help you all out: