Inside Google

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Senators To Skip Fundraiser Set For Google Headquarters

CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310-392-0522 ext. 317 or cell 310-292-1902

Public Policy Should Be Decided In Hearing Room With Sunlight And Transparency, Group Says

SANTA MONICA, CA — Warning that a Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
Fundraiser scheduled to be held at Google’s headquarters in Mountain
View, CA, on Friday created an appearance of a conflict of interest,
Consumer Watchdog  called on the seven Senators scheduled to appear not
to attend.

Press Release

Big Bird’s Birthday: Part Of Google’s Charm Campaign?

CONTACT: David Grant

For Big Bird’s birthday, the Sesame Street icon’s feet replaced the L in Google’s search logo. Is Google pressing Big Bird into the service of its charm offensive?
      
Critics say its corporate motto of
“Don’t be evil” is a smoke screen for invasive procedures that are
stripping away privacy (like scanning your gmail account for keywords
to create targeted advertising). “I love Google. But I also fear Google,” says Jamie Court, president of
Consumer Watchdog. “It’s made finding information remarkably easy, but
I’m not under any illusion that that’s a free lunch. And most Internet
users have had their eyes opened recently to the fact that they are
being tracked and they don’t have a way of stopping that.”

Press Release

Critics Of Google Online-Books Deal Seek Delay

CONTACT: Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Critics of Google’s deal with an authors’ group to put millions of books online have asked for a delay in a hearing set to consider the settlement in a court filing on Thursday. A long list of critics of the deal, including Yahoo, Amazon, Microsoft, the National Writers Union, Consumer Watchdog and singer Arlo Guthrie, argued on Thursday that the original class action settlement was long and complex and any changes would only add to its complexity

Press Release

Apple Board Member Resigns His Position As A Google Director

CONTACT: Dan Raywood

Following
the resignation of Google chief executive Eric Schmidt from the Apple
board in August, Levinson has resigned his director position. Mr. Levinson, who is also chairman of biotech company Genentech, had been a Google board member since April 2004. Former
US vice-president, Al Gore, is the last remaining link between the two
companies as he serves on the board of Apple and is an adviser to
Google. John M. Simpson, consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, said: “We’re pleased that Arthur Levinson finally realised that serving on both
Google’s and Apple’s boards were untenable. It took too long, but he
finally did the right thing.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Says Genetech’s Levinson Correct To Resign From Google Board

CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310-392-0522 ext. 317

SANTA MONICA, CA — Arthur D. Levinson, a member of both Google and Apple’s boards, acted correctly in resigning from Google’s board, Consumer Watchdog said today.

"We’re pleased that Arthur Levinson finally realized that…

Press Release

Genentech Chairman Resigns From Google Board

CONTACT: Staff Writers

Press Release

US Judge Postpones Googlebooks Hearing

CONTACT: Cade Metz

$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

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

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

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.