Archive | 2009
Press Release
Genentech Chairman Resigns From Google Board
CONTACT: Staff Writers
the board of directors of Google amid a probe by US authorities into
his membership of the boards of both the Internet giant and Apple. Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog also welcomed Levinson’s resignation, saying he had "acted correctly" in stepping down. "We’re
pleased that Arthur Levinson finally realized that serving on both
Google’s and Apple’s boards was untenable," said John Simpson of
Consumer Watchdog. "It took too long, but he finally did the right
thing."
Internet Users Oppose Being Tracked, Study Says
30. September 2009
Backer of Google Critic Supports Research Showing Users Don’t Want Tailored Ads
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Roughly two-thirds of Americans oppose being
tracked on the Internet in exchange for receiving tailored advertising,
according to a new study by scholars from the University of
Pennsylvania and the University of California, Berkeley.
Press Release
US Judge Postpones Googlebooks Hearing
CONTACT: Cade Metz
25. September 2009
$125 Million Pact ‘Raises Significant Issues’
"Clearly, voices such as ours had an impact on Judge Chin," says John
Simpson, of the consumer watchdog known as Consumer Watchdog, one of
the many organizations opposed to the deal. "There was no way the
proposed settlement could go forward. Consumer Watchdog is pleased
there will be a status hearing on the case on Oct. 7." Like the Open Book Alliance – a group that includes the Internet
Archive, Microsoft, and Amazon – Consumer Watchdog advocates solving
the ebook copyright issue with federal legislation. "We believe that will demonstrate that the proper place to solve many
of the case’s thorniest problems, such as that of orphan books, is in
Congress," Simpson says. "Consumer Watchdog urges Congress to act
expeditiously because it is important to build digital libraries."
Press Release
Judge Delays Google Books Hearing
CONTACT: Maggie Shiels
25. September 2009
A New York judge has put Google’s vision of creating the world’s biggest digital library on hold.
Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo have filed objections to
the settlement with the court, along with the French and German
governments, privacy advocates and consumer watchdog groups. "Clearly voices such as ours had an impact on Judge
Chin," wrote consumer watchdog advocate John Simpson in an email to BBC
News. "There was no way the proposed settlement could go
forward. We believe that the proper place to solve many of the case’s
thorniest problems, such as that of orphan books, is in Congress
because it is important to build digital libraries."
Press Release
Fairness Hearing Postponed For Google Books Deal
CONTACT: Larry Neumeister
24. September 2009
John
M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog who testified
about the deal before the House Judiciary Committee, said any agreement
should also involve input from Congress. He said the agreement as it now stands would have given Google a monopoly over the digitizing of books. "The judge put his fingers exactly on the issues in the case," Simpson said.
Press Release
Authors, Publishers Ask Judge to Postpone Google Book Search Hearing
CONTACT: Clint Boulton
23. September 2009
The Author’s Guild and Association of American Publishers in the Google Book Search settlement asked District Court Judge Denny Chin to postpone his fairness hearing on the deal so they can work with Google and the Department of Justice on amending the agreement. Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog further suggested that
important issues affecting copyright law should not be negotiated
behind closed doors.
Press Release
Authors, Publishers Seek Delay In Google Case
CONTACT: Alex Pham
23. September 2009
Two groups ask a federal judge for more time to address new issues in a settlement covering the firm’s digital library project. A hearing is set for Oct. 7, but they want it moved to Nov. 6.
Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group in Santa Monica, objected to the
"closed-door" nature of the negotiations with the Justice Department. "Key copyright issues must be settled by Congress in a fully public process," said John Simpson, a Consumer Watchdog spokesman.
Press Release
New Deal Sought In Dispute Over Google Book Plan
CONTACT: Larry Neumeister
22. September 2009
Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocacy group
that has asked the court to reject the settlement, said in a statement
that key copyright issues should be settled by Congress in a fully
public process. "Essentially Google and the authors and publishers groups are back at
square one and must re-negotiate the deal," said John M. Simpson, a
consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog who was one of eight witnesses
to testify about the deal to the House Judiciary Committee.
Press Release
Google Working To Modify Settlement, Publishers Say
CONTACT: Susan Decker and David Glovin
22. September 2009
Google Inc. and groups of authors and publishers are working to modify a $125 million settlement to create a digital library following criticism from parties including the U.S. Justice Department, the groups said. “Google and the authors and publisher groups are back at square one,”
John Simpson, an advocate at Consumer Watchdog, a group in Santa
Monica, California, said in a statement.
Press Release
Publishers and Authors Ask To Delay Google Hearing To Negotiate New Settlement
CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310-374-2901 cell 310 292-1902
22. September 2009
Consumer Watchdog Says Copyright Issues For Congress, Not Closed-Door Deals
SANTA M0NICA, CA —Publisher and author associations sought today to
cancel a key hearing in the Google Books case to allow private
negotiations with Google over digitizing books online. Consumer
Watchdog warned that important issues affecting copyright law should
not be negotiated behind closed doors.
12. October 2009