Inside Google

Press Release

Judge Issues Extension In Google Book Search Settlement

CONTACT: Daniel Terdiman

A federal judge has granted authors worldwide four more months to
decide whether to participate in a settlement involving Google’s online
Book Search service. "The four-month extension is a big victory for those who oppose the
Google Books settlement," said John Simpson, a consumer advocate with
Consumer Watchdog. "It’s a clear recognition by the judge that there
are problems with the proposed deal. The extension also gives the
Justice Department more time to consider the antitrust issues that we
and others have raised and discussed with them."

U.S. Senate Records Reveal Google Inc. Lobbying Campaign On Personal Medical Records Law Despite Internet Giant’s Denials

John M. Simpson

Washington, DC — First quarter federal reports show Google lobbied on
the electronic medical records provisions of the federal economic
stimulus act, contradicting the Internet giant’s earlier claims that
Consumer Watchdog’s report of its effort was “100 percent false.”

Press Release

Google seeks delay in book settlement

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Faced with mounting criticism of the proposed Google Books settlement, the Internet giant has asked the court to extend the time for authors, publishers…

Press Release

Google, Others Ask For Delay In Book Search Settlement

CONTACT: Wendy Davis

With opponents to the ambitious Google Book Search settlement continuing to emerge, Google as well as authors and publishers have asked for a two-month delay in the search case. Earlier this month, advocacy group Consumer Watchdog also criticized
the settlement on the grounds that it would give Google "an effective
monopoly over digitized books" and asked the Department of Justice to
intervene.

Google lobbying revealed

John M. Simpson

First quarter lobbying reports just filed with the U.S. Senate’s Office of Public Records show that
Google lobbied Congress about electronic medical record provisions in the federal economic stimulus act.

Press Release

Resistance Grows As Google Deadline Nears

CONTACT: Andrew Albanese

Earlier this month, the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog called for the
Justice Department to delay the settlement. The group argued that no
one is representing the public interest in the agreement, a deal it
contends will "transform" publishing.

Press Release

Opposition to Google Books Settlement Jells

CONTACT: Miguel Helft

With a May 5 deadline for filing objections to the Google books settlement looming, opposition to and criticism of the settlement continues to cement.

Internet Archive Latest to Object to Google Settlement

Jim Milliot

The Internet Archive has sent a letter to
Judge Dennis Chin, the judge overseeing the Google/Authors Guild, AAP
case seeking permission to file a motion that would ask the court to
alter the proposed settlement to give other companies that have scanned
printed books the same copyright protection of orphan works that would
be granted to Google in the settlement. 
The same argument was made last week by the Consumer Watchdog group
when it asked the Justice Department to intervene in the settlement.

Press Release

Why trust Google Health still in beta test mode?

CONTACT: John M. Simpson

Why would anybody trust their private medial records to a service that by its own admission doesn’t have all the kinks worked out?  Believe it or not, that’s exactly what  Google is asking you to do with its Google Health service.

Google’s solution for journalism: Invade your privacy

John M. Simpson

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt recently sat down with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and discussed how newspapers can emerge from their downward spiral.  His solution, not surprisingly, is less privacy.