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Press Release
Regulators Question Google’s Deal With Publishers — Online Book Project Raises Antitrust Concerns
CONTACT: James Rowley and Brian Womack
U.S. antitrust enforcers are asking questions about Google’s settlement
with publishers over its book-scanning project, representatives for
Consumer Watchdog and the American Antitrust Institute said. Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer group, spent
about an hour on the phone with Justice Department lawyers this month
to discuss their concerns, John Simpson, a consumer advocate at the
group, said in an interview.
Press Release
DOJ Inquiry Over Book Deal Puts Google on Notice
CONTACT: Sam Gustin
29. April 2009
Earlier this month, Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to Attorney General
Eric Holder arguing that the deal between Google and the Author’s Guild
raises antitrust concerns and hasn’t been adequately scrutinized with
the public’s interest in mind. Consumer Watchdog objected to two components of the deal, arguing they
create barriers to entry for potential Google competitors, thereby
giving Google an unfair advantage in the nascent marketplace for
digital books.
Press Release
Google Book Deal Targeted by Justice Department
CONTACT: Nicholas Kolakowski
29. April 2009
Google has reportedly been questioned by the U.S. Justice Department over whether its plans to digitize the world’s books into an online database represents a potential antitrust violation. An advocate for Consumer Watchdog, John M. Simpson, wrote a letter to
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking for government intervention in
Google’s settlement with the Author’s Guild and the Association of
American Publishers, arguing that it should have been reviewed to see
if it met "the interests of consumers."
Press Release
US Justice Department Probes Google Settlement
CONTACT: Richard Waters
29. April 2009
John M. Simpson, an advocate with Consumer Watchdog, a California consumer
group, said his organization had been contacted by justice department
lawyers to discuss orphaned rights after protesting about this aspect
of the Google book settlement early this month. Meanwhile, a second
person said that the anti-trust agency had also held talks with lawyers
for Google on the same issue in the last two weeks.
Press Release
U.S. Opens Inquiry Into Google Books Deal
CONTACT: Miguel Helft
29. April 2009
The Justice Department has begun an inquiry into
the antitrust implications of Google’s settlement with authors and
publishers over its Google Book Search service, two people briefed on
the matter said Tuesday. Lawyers for the Justice Department have been in conversations in recent
weeks with various groups opposed to the settlement, including the
Internet Archive and Consumer Watchdog.
Press Release
Judge Issues Extension In Google Book Search Settlement
CONTACT: Daniel Terdiman
28. April 2009
A federal judge has granted authors worldwide four more months to
decide whether to participate in a settlement involving Google’s online
Book Search service. "The four-month extension is a big victory for those who oppose the
Google Books settlement," said John Simpson, a consumer advocate with
Consumer Watchdog. "It’s a clear recognition by the judge that there
are problems with the proposed deal. The extension also gives the
Justice Department more time to consider the antitrust issues that we
and others have raised and discussed with them."
Press Release
Google seeks delay in book settlement
CONTACT: John M. Simpson
27. April 2009
Faced with mounting criticism of the proposed Google Books settlement, the Internet giant has asked the court to extend the time for authors, publishers…
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Google, Others Ask For Delay In Book Search Settlement
CONTACT: Wendy Davis
27. April 2009
With opponents to the ambitious Google Book Search settlement continuing to emerge, Google as well as authors and publishers have asked for a two-month delay in the search case. Earlier this month, advocacy group Consumer Watchdog also criticized
the settlement on the grounds that it would give Google "an effective
monopoly over digitized books" and asked the Department of Justice to
intervene.
Press Release
Resistance Grows As Google Deadline Nears
CONTACT: Andrew Albanese
20. April 2009
Earlier this month, the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog called for the
Justice Department to delay the settlement. The group argued that no
one is representing the public interest in the agreement, a deal it
contends will "transform" publishing.
Press Release
Opposition to Google Books Settlement Jells
CONTACT: Miguel Helft
17. April 2009
With a May 5 deadline for filing objections to the Google books settlement looming, opposition to and criticism of the settlement continues to cement.
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30. April 2009