Over at the Google Webmaster Central blog, Matt Cutts is reminding people that Google doesn't use keyword meta tags to rank sites for its main web search.
Keyword meta tags are used in the Google Search Appliance, but that's for enterprise search, not their main search product.
Google does take information from other meta tags, which it has outlined on this page over at Webmaster Tools. Meta tags discussed there include description, title, and robots meta tags among others.
Apparently, Cutts' goal in posting the blog was to help people stave off unnecessary lawsuits regarding trademarked keywords being included in the keyword meta tags of competitor websites.
Introducing SES Online
Want to view one of the sessions you missed or listen to an especially informative presenter a second time? SES New York sessions are available for purchase on ClickZ Academy's new e-Learning site. SES is now Online!
