Tag Archive | "Google Books"
Blog Post
FTC reportedly seeking sworn statements in Google-AdMob deal
Posted by John M. Simpson
Antitrust regulators are reported by Bloomberg news service to be seeking sworn statements from Google's competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant's proposed $750 million deal to buy AdMob.
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Justice’s Google probe is ongoing
Posted by John M. Simpson
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I've just been reading the transcript from last week's Fairness Hearing in the Google Books case and one thing is crystal clear: The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust investigation of Google is by no means finished.
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Consumer Watchdog Urges Justice To Include Search Manipulation In Google Probe
CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310-392-0522 ext 317 or Carmen Balber 202-629-3043
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Watchdog today called upon the Justice Department to ensure that its ongoing antitrust probe of Google’s business practices include an investigation of whether the Internet giant is manipulating its search results to favor its own products.
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Judge asks tough questions in Google Books case
Posted by John M. Simpson
Friday, February 19, 2010
U.S. Judge Denny Chin began Thursday's marathon Fairness Hearing in the Google Books case by ending the suspense. "I'm not going to rule today," he said. But sitting in the courtroom observing the more than four-hour long hearing, the questions Judge Chin asked left me believing that the objections to the deal raised by groups like Consumer Watchdog have made a strong impression on him.
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At Hearing On Google Books, Critics Reiterate Opposition
By Aruna Viswanatha MAINJUSTICE.COM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
In press releases this morning outlining their testimony, critics of the plan reiterated their opposition. “In essence Google’s latest arguments seem to boil down to this: ‘Our motto is don’t be evil, so you can trust us to control the world’s digital library,’ said John Simpson, with a group called Consumer Watchdog which has criticized Google on privacy issues.
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Attorneys For Consumer Watchdog In Court To Argue Against Google Books Deal
CONTACT: John M. Simpson cell 310 292-1902
Thursday, February 18, 2010
NEW YORK, NY — Attorneys for Consumer Watchdog will appear in a federal court today to urge Judge Deny Chinn to reject the revised Google Books settlement because it remains anticompetitive and violates both U.S. and international law.
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Justice Department Objects to Revised Google Books Settlement
By Wire Reports AMERICAN LIBRARIES MAGAZINE
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest February 4 saying that that despite “substantial progress” it still had objections to the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, noting that the agreement continued to raise copyright, antitrust, and class certification issues. Consumer Watchdog, which had filed a brief opposing the settlement, praised the Justice Department’s stance. “The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company,” said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group. “The DOJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the amended settlement, such as the one filed by Consumer Watchdog, make it almost certain Judge Denny Chin will reject the deal.”
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Justice Says Revised Google Books Deal Still Problematic
By Wire Reports TECH DAILY DOSE BLOG
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Justice Department announced late Thursday that it still has problems with a proposed settlement between the publishing industry and Google over the firm's plans for developing a global online library, CongressDaily reported. In a statement, the Open Book Alliance, which opposes the settlement, applauded the Justice Department's filing saying, it will "help to preserve competition, promote innovation and protect the public interest. The Department of Justice has made it crystal clear that the proposal before the court is overreaching and cannot be approved." The alliance members include Amazon.com, Microsoft and Yahoo, as well as some library, writer and publishing groups. John Simpson with Consumer Watchdog also praised the department in a statement for "standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company" and predicted the court will reject it.
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Justice Dept Says Google Books Deal Troubled
By Diane Bartz REUTERS
Friday, February 5, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Changes that Google Inc and the Authors Guild made to an ambitious plan to create a massive online library were inadequate because they fail to address antitrust and copyright concerns, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. Critics of the deal have been a varied group that includes Yahoo Inc, Amazon Inc, Microsoft Inc, the National Writers Union and Consumer Watchdog.
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DOJ: Thumbs Down Again to Google Book Search Settlement
By Juan Carlos Perez COMPUTERWORLD
Thursday, February 4, 2010
In a big blow to Google's efforts to build a massive digital-books marketplace and library, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has come out against the revised agreement to settle copyright lawsuits brought against Google by authors and publishers. Consumer Watchdog, a critic of the settlement, praised the DOJ's opinion and predicted the judge will not approve the proposal. "The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, in a statement.
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Consumer Watchdog Praises DOJ for Opposing Google Books Settlement
CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310 392-0522 ext. 317 or cell 310 292-1902
Thursday, February 4, 2010
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Department of Justice today for opposing the amended Google Books Settlement. The DOJ said that while there were improvements in the amended settlement, problems with class certification, copyright and antitrust issues remained.
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DOJ Not Pleased With Latest Google Book Agreement
By Elinor Mills CNET NEWS
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Although the amended settlement agreement for Google's Book Search addressed some concerns the U.S. Justice Department had, it still could give the company anticompetitive advantages in the digital book marketplace, the agency said on Thursday. The nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog praised the Justice Department's stance. "The settlement still abuses the class-action mechanism and purports to enroll absent class members automatically into new business 'opportunities,' in violation of current copyright laws," Consumer Watchdog reiterated from its friend-of-the-court brief opposing the agreement as modified.
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Two Congressmen ask Justice to scrutinize Google Books deal, government will comment on revised deal Thursday
Posted by John M. Simpson
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Two Texas Congressmen have asked the U.S. of Justice to ensure that the proposed Google Books Settlement not hurt minority publishers and small businesses. The department is scheduled to file its view of the amended settlement in federal court on Thursday.
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