Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Google Base as a cure for Amazon

I wrote a book review on Amazon this morning and never posted it. I don't like turning over my thoughts, howerver sloppy, to anyone. I trust Amazon not to be like some sites -taking user-submitted information under a free model and then charging for it. But this isn't good enough. I'm not even sure I'd be allowed to reprint one of my reviews here.
On the other hand it doesn't do much good for a review to languish on an isolated site. Google Base may be the solution. You retain your data and it allows group reviewing of the same work. There is no system for rating others' submissions yet but that may come or be developed by a third-party.
Update: I reread the Amazon agreement and it said that their rights are non-exclusive.