Inside Google

Press Release

Google Pro-Openness Campaign Meets Opposition

CONTACT: Nicholas Kolakowski

Google has launched a wide-ranging campaign highlighting its "competition and openness," meeting with everyone from policymakers to media in order to convince them of its anti-monopolistic intentions. Certain consumer-advocacy organizations, however, do not have a warm and fuzzy feeling about Google’s motives. In a May 8 news release, nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog described sending the U.S. Justice Department a copy of a document that Google had been using to back its anti-monopolistic claims; the nonprofit group had taken the liberty of marking the document up with comments.

Press Release

How the Wolfram Alpha Search Engine Could Save Google

CONTACT: Ryan Singel

You can see a copy of a Google PowerPoint to that effect over at
Silicon Alley Insider, which got it from Consumer Watchdog. That group
had an advertising industry an insider tip them off and give them a
rebuttal.

Press Release

Facing Criticism, Google Tries Buffing Its Image

CONTACT: Stephen Shankland

Google, having dealt with two major antitrust issues 2008 and facing
the potential of more to come, has begun a program to try to spruce up
its image and show that competition is alive and well. Consumer Watchdog on Friday plans to tout a Google presentation titled
Google, Competition, and Openness (PDF) that the advocacy group
uncovered. The company presentation (also embedded below) gives
Google’s views that it faces plenty of competition in a dynamic market.

Press Release

Library Groups Voice Concerns About Google Books

CONTACT: Wendy Davis

Google has said the settlement will benefit authors, publishers and readers, because it will result in expanded access to books. Nonetheless, the deal is drawing increasingly vocal critics. Among
others, advocacy group Public Citizen opposes a portion of the
settlement, as does Consumer Watchdog. Additionally, New York Law
School intends to file a brief asking for antitrust oversight of the
deal. Last week, it also came to light that the Justice Department was
making inquiries about the settlement.

Press Release

Google Defends Book-Scanning Project

CONTACT: Warwick Ashford

US antitrust enforcers are investigating Google’s settlement with
publishers over its book-scanning project, but the internet firm has
defended its position. Google reached an agreement in October to create a $125 million fund to
pay authors to have their work scanned and made available online. The US Justice Department became involved after representatives for
Consumer Watchdog and the American Antitrust Institute raised concerns
earlier this month, according to Bloomberg News.

Press Release

Google Book Search Changes Slammed by Librarians

CONTACT: Staff Writers

In early April 2009, a nonprofit watchdog group, Consumer Watchdog, had called upon the Justice Department to examine the ramifications of Google’s plan to scan so-called "orphan books," which are volumes still under copyright but whose rights-holders cannot be found, into its growing library of digital text. An advocate for the group argued in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder that such a deal would need to be reviewed to ensure that it had sufficient consumer protections.

Press Release

Extension, Possible Review Challenge Google Settlement

CONTACT: Andrew Albanes

For the first time since its preliminary approval in November 2008,
the Google Book Search settlement is looking less like a done deal. On
April 28, New York federal judge Denny Chin granted a four-month
extension, delaying the initial May 5 deadline to opt out or object to
the Google settlement until September 4, with a fairness hearing now
set for October 7. The ruling leaves all other dates in place, at least
for now, but raises questions about the deal’s prospects for final
approval.

Libraries Ask Court To Monitor Google After Book Settlement Is Approved

Alex Pham

Google’s project to digitize books is garnering objections.

Another group, Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica, also confirmed
discussions with Justice Department officials on the effects of the
settlement on competition.

Press Release

Google In Dispute Over Book Project

CONTACT: Elise Ackerman

The Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into the settlement,
according to three people who have spoken with investigators. Such
inquiries don’t necessarily turn into formal investigations, though
some advocates are pressing the government to get involved. "We’d like to have them intervene and delay the settlement until the
antitrust issues get fixed," said John M. Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a
nonprofit group that contacted the Justice Department about the
settlement a month ago.

Press Release

Google Stands By Book Search Deal

CONTACT: Maggie Shiels

Google has defended its online book deal amid reports it is being reviewed by the US justice department.

Consumer Watchdog told the BBC it was one of a
number of groups involved in calling on the Department of Justice to
act "We felt the deal set up an unfair monopolistic situation for Google,"
explained Consumer Watchdog advocate John M. Simpson. "We do need to have the world’s books digitized but I think there are
very big concerns if one internet giant is able to dominate the digital
market. We want a level playing field here," Mr. Simpson said.