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Press Release
Consumer Watchdog Praises DOJ for Opposing Google Books Settlement
CONTACT: John M. Simpson 310 392-0522 ext. 317 or cell 310 292-1902
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Department of
Justice today for opposing the amended Google Books Settlement. The DOJ
said that while there were improvements in the amended settlement,
problems with class certification, copyright and antitrust issues
remained.
Google, NSA Partnership Raises Privacy Hackles
4. February 2010
The revelation that Google Inc. is partnering with the National Security Agency to probe a widespread cyber attack has quickened the pulse of privacy advocates.
Continue reading...Press Release
DOJ Not Pleased With Latest Google Book Agreement
CONTACT: Elinor Mills
4. February 2010
Although the amended settlement agreement for Google’s Book Search addressed some concerns the U.S. Justice Department had, it still could give the company anticompetitive advantages in the digital book marketplace, the agency said on Thursday. The nonprofit advocacy group Consumer Watchdog praised the Justice Department’s stance. "The settlement still abuses the class-action mechanism and purports to
enroll absent class members automatically into new business
‘opportunities,’ in violation of current copyright laws," Consumer
Watchdog reiterated from its friend-of-the-court brief opposing the
agreement as modified.
Google’s 5 principles pay lip service to privacy
2. February 2010
Google decided to take note of International Data Privacy Day last week by publishing their five guiding privacy principles. Here are the bullet points and there is …
Continue reading...Steve Jobs blasts Google’s ‘Don’t be evil’ motto
1. February 2010
The tech blogosphere is buzzing with Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ assessment of Google’s…
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Google E-Book Bid Still Under Fire
CONTACT: Wire Reports
29. January 2010
Google’s bid to secure the digital rights to millions of books
remains under attack from rivals and other critics trying to block a
revised legal settlement that would unlock a vast electronic library.
The most strident criticism to the
changes so far has come from the same foes that have spearheaded the
resistance since last summer. The opposing camp includes the Open Book
Alliance, a group including Google rivals Microsoft Corporation, Yahoo
and Amazon.com, as well as Consumer Watchdog, a group that fights abusive business practices.
Press Release
Last-Minute Objections Filed To Google Book Settlement
CONTACT: Chris Lefkow
29. January 2010
and publishers that would allow Google to scan and sell millions of
books online filed a flurry of last-minute objections on Thursday. Consumer Watchdog said "the revised settlement suffers from the same fundamental problems as its predecessor." It
said it notably fails to do enough to protect reader privacy, violates
copyright laws and gives "unfair competitive advantages to Google."
Groups File Briefs In Google Books Case
28. January 2010
Consumer Watchdog urged the court to reject the settlement, saying
it’s anticompetitive and violates U.S. and international law. "This
scheme acts to the disadvantage of absent class members and would
result in unfair competitive advantages to Google in the search engine,
electronic book sales, and other markets, to the detriment of the
public interest. Along the way, the settlement raises significant
international law and privacy concerns," the group said in it’s brief.
Consumer Watchdog Urges Court To Reject Amended Google Books Deal
28. January 2010
Brief Argues Books Settlement Continues Steal From Absent Class Members, Remains Anti-Competitive
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Watchdog today filed a brief urging a
federal court to reject the revised Google Books settlement because it
is remains anticompetitive and violates both U.S. and international
law.
Consumers Have A Right To Online Anonymity
28. January 2010
The FTC’s job is make sure that consumers have control of what data
is gathered, how it is used and how long it’s kept. Consumers must
first be able to see what data Google and the other online companies
have accumulated, then delete it if they wish or prevent it from being
gathered in the first place. Control is the key. Google could long ago have offered everyone a
simple "make me anonymous" button. But it’s not likely that Google or
any other company will voluntarily give us that control, because it
endangers their advertising profits.
4. February 2010