From here:

25 November 2006, we've got the letter from Michael Jones, the Chief Technologist of Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Local search, requesting us to cease reverse engineering and improper usage of licensed data that Google Earth use...

Didn't Google have some kind of proscription against being or doing evil?

Sebastian, I see a veiled threat in that letter. Furthermore, I see more promotion of proprietary data and software, and defense of the ideals of intellectual property law.

You may argue that this is good business sense or necessary or what-have-you, but it ain't not-evil.