Inside Google

Press Release

Court Weighs Literary Flap Of The Century

CONTACT: Peter Kelton

The Author’s Guild has urged
members to go along with a lawsuit settlement that would allow Google
to digitize millions of books from libraries and make them available in
its Book Search service. A prominent literary and talent agency has urged just the opposite. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice
currently has the settlement under review for possible violations of
antitrust laws. A federal court has extended the deadline to Sept. 4
for authors and publishers to opt out of the proposed agreement. The court has been inundated with proposed changes to the settlement,
including one filed by a group of California professors who suggest the
settlement isn’t fair to academic writers. Several groups, including The Internet Archive and Consumer
Watchdog, have also raised concerns about the issue to the Justice
Department in what many consider the literary flap of the century.

Press Release

Arthur Levinson To Follow Eric Schmidt’s Lead?

CONTACT: Mary Kathleen Flynn

Calls for Genentech Inc.chairman Arthur Levinson to quit either the board of Apple Inc. or the board of Google Inc. are increasing, following on the heels of Monday’s news that Google CEO Eric Schmidt has stepped down from Apple’s board. Consumer Watchdog is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that is also
pushing the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission
to insist on guarantees of user privacy before agreeing to the 10-year
deal between Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo! Inc.

Press Release

Google And Apple Not Off The Hook

CONTACT: Maggie Shiels

The resignation of Google’s Eric Schmidt as a director of Apple’s board
has failed to halt a government inquiry into possible antitrust
violations.

Mr. Schmidt stepped down because the search giant’s business increasingly competes with Apple’s. Former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson still serves on both boards. Consumer Watchdog has called for him to step down from either Google or Apple to avoid antitrust violations.

Press Release

U.S. FTC To Press On With Apple-Google Board Probe

CONTACT: John Poirier

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it will
continue to investigate the relationship between the boards of Apple
Inc. and Google Inc., after Google’s chief, Eric Schmidt, quit Apple’s board on Monday. A consumer rights group criticized Schmidt for taking too long to leave
Apple’s board, and called on former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson to choose either Apple or Google. "Nonetheless, we’re glad Schmidt finally did the right thing," Consumer
Watchdog said in a statement. "We call on Levinson to act responsibly
and choose one company or the other."

Long Term, The Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Could Benefit Consumers

Larry Magid

John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog raised concerns about how users’ personal data is collected, stored and shared. He’s worried about "up-until-now separate databases being merged and
used in ways that haven’t been made explicit." Simpson hopes to see
Microsoft and Yahoo come up with a data retention policy that expunges
personal information in about a month and says that, by default, they
shouldn’t collect behavioral information unless consumers opt-in.

Press Release

Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Faces Moderate Antitrust Scrutiny, Say Experts

CONTACT: Greg Piper

Microsoft and Yahoo finally tied the knot, but they signed an expansive pre-nup to limit antitrust scrutiny. Vocal Google critic Consumer Watchdog didn’t denounce the deal
outright, noting that "some have suggested" that the tie-up may
increase competition against Google. But the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is a
chance for regulators to "set to the gold standard for privacy
guarantees by Internet companies and for the government to use its
leverage to obtain it," it said. Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson said
the FTC should take a strong lead on privacy matters. "If the result of
this deal is that there are two stronger Internet search enterprises
who exploit users’ data at the expense of their privacy rights,
consumers are worse off, not better," he said. "Justice and the FTC can
— and must — insist on this."

Press Release

Consumer Advocates Exhort DOJ, FTC To Scrutinize Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

CONTACT: Clint Boulton

John Simpson, an advocate with non-profit group Consumer Watchdog, also
said the Microhoo deal must be closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade
Commission, the Justice Department and the European Commission to
ensure that there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is
guaranteed. "If the result of this deal is that there are two stronger Internet
search enterprises who exploit users’ data at the expense of their
privacy rights, consumers are worse off, not better," said Simpson.
"Users must have control of their data—whether it is collected and how
it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this
deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can—and must—insist on this."

Press Release

Microsoft, Yahoo Finally Sign Search Deal

CONTACT: James Temple

Microsoft and Yahoo clearly are bracing for regulatory scrutiny. The news release emphasized that the two companies will "continue to compete vigorously" in other areas, including e-mail, instant messaging and display advertising. It also stressed that the agreement restricts the sharing of search and other data.
Consumer Watchdog in Washington, D.C., called on the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to probe the deal for potential antitrust violations and privacy concerns.

Press Release

Microsoft-Yahoo! Pact Hit With Anti-Trust Question

CONTACT: Gavin Clarke

Three-Into-Two Doesn’t Wash

Consumer Watchdog noted the competitive search and advertising
landscape will deteriorate – not improve – if the result is two
enterprises that exploit users’ data at the expense of their privacy
rights. John Simpson, an advocate with the group, said the FTC and DoJ must
insist users retain control of their data, how it’s used, and where its
stored. "Users must have control of their data – whether it is collected and
how it is used. Guarantees of that control must be in place before this
deal is approved. Justice and the FTC can – and must – insist on this,"
he said in a statement.

Press Release

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Feds To Get User Privacy And Antitrust Guarantees In Proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! Deal

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

Santa Monica CA — The proposed 10-year partnership on Internet search
and search advertising between Microsoft and Yahoo! must be closely
scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department
to ensure there are no antitrust violations and that user privacy is
guaranteed, Consumer Watchdog said today.