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Press Release
Is Google Insurmountable?
CONTACT: Andrew LaVallee
After Google unveiled new features to its search results yesterday, one
analyst is saying that the company’s leadership position has become
virtually unshakable. Google’s name is increasingly coming up in antitrust discussions, and there are signs that regulators are considering whether it is a monopoly. A presentation outlining reasons Google is not monopolistic surfaced on Consumer Watchdog last week.
Press Release
Google, Intel, Others Face Resurgence in Antitrust Interest, Actions
CONTACT: Erik Sherman
12. May 2009
As Google’s gadfly, Consumer Watchdog has noted that the company
developed a presentation trying to argue that antitrust concerns are
unreasonable and unwarranted. Unfortunately for Google, there are times
that PR can do wonders, and times when it can’t. One time it can’t is
when the PR campaign is full of holes, including the following…
Press Release
U. Chicago Law Prof Criticizes Settlement That Could Give Google Monopoly On ‘Orphaned’ Texts
CONTACT: Maria Mauriello
12. May 2009
CHICAGO, IL — University of Chicago law professor Randal Picker raised
concerns recently over a court settlement that will grant Google the
exclusive right to publish orphaned texts –- texts which remain under
copyright, but whose copyright holder can’t be identified or found-a
move he felt could give Google a powerful monopoly. A group of professors from Harvard Law School, and the Internet
Archive, have each independently filed motions to intervene in the case
on the grounds of antitrust violations. Several groups, including The
Internet Archive and Consumer Watchdog, have also raised concerns about
the issue to the U.S. Department of Justice, which so far has not
displayed any intention to involve itself in the case.
Press Release
ConsumerWatchdog.org: Leaked Google Presentation Meant To Counter Fed Inquiries On Competition
CONTACT: Ian Lamont
8. May 2009
Is Google a monopoly? That question, which is increasingly gaining the
attention of regulators in Washington, D.C., is also the subject of an
intense public relations war between Google and detractors. Today, a new front was opened up, after a consumer advocacy group
released a copy of a Google presentation on Google’s business
practices, along with critical commentary that casts doubt on Google’s
claims that it supports competition. The group, ConsumerWatchdog.org,
said that the Google presentation is part of a campaign to counter
federal inquiries into potentially anticompetitive practices.
Press Release
Google Pro-Openness Campaign Meets Opposition
CONTACT: Nicholas Kolakowski
8. May 2009
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.
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How the Wolfram Alpha Search Engine Could Save Google
CONTACT: Ryan Singel
8. May 2009
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
7. May 2009
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
7. May 2009
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
5. May 2009
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
5. May 2009
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.
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13. May 2009