Seems Google has won a partial victory in their DoJ Case: I just hope that it will at least give the Google naysayers something to think about.
The dangerous part of the DOJ order is most probably the problem with a precedent being set through compliance with the order. If they can order the companies to turn over information without a proper and specific case or justification, they will be allowed in the future when they can blatantly order the companies to turn over details of any user without the appropriate papers.
All I can say is kudos to Google for taking it to court even if it was a pr move. Considering Yahoo and MSN bent over and just gave up the information that was asked for scares me... what will they ask for and get in the future?
If you're protective of your privacy or at least concerned about who knows what about you (most people are to some extent) this is becoming a really big bad can of worms... Think about "live" online software and all these other decentralized services that no longer operate locally on your computer. It won't be long before the world knows what your mouse usage style is to how many WPM you can type and all sorts of other nice little things. I guess that's the kinda info marketers dream about having at their finger tips... knowing every little habit you have. I'll take a bet and say that Google has known far more about us personally than any other person, and for a very long time! Anyone paranoid yet? (if you weren't before)
Not touching Google's own privacy policies, I think it was a good move to resist the subpoena. Next time the governement will certainly ask for the IPs as well And now Google has a precedent on their side.