Tag Archive | "justice department"
Authors, Publishers Seek Delay In Google Case
Two groups ask a federal judge for more time to address new issues in a settlement covering the firm's digital library project. A hearing is set for Oct. 7, but they want it moved to Nov. 6. Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group in Santa Monica, objected to the "closed-door" nature of the negotiations with the Justice Department. "Key copyright issues must be settled by Congress in a fully public process," said John Simpson, a Consumer Watchdog spokesman.
Continue reading...New Deal Sought In Dispute Over Google Book Plan
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocacy group that has asked the court to reject the settlement, said in a statement that key copyright issues should be settled by Congress in a fully public process. "Essentially Google and the authors and publishers groups are back at square one and must re-negotiate the deal," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog who was one of eight witnesses to testify about the deal to the House Judiciary Committee.
Continue reading...Google Working To Modify Settlement, Publishers Say
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Google Inc. and groups of authors and publishers are working to modify a $125 million settlement to create a digital library following criticism from parties including the U.S. Justice Department, the groups said. “Google and the authors and publisher groups are back at square one,” John Simpson, an advocate at Consumer Watchdog, a group in Santa Monica, California, said in a statement.
Continue reading...Publishers and Authors Ask To Delay Google Hearing To Negotiate New Settlement
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Consumer Watchdog Says Copyright Issues For Congress, Not Closed-Door Deals SANTA M0NICA, CA —Publisher and author associations sought today to cancel a key hearing in the Google Books case to allow private negotiations with Google over digitizing books online. Consumer Watchdog warned that important issues affecting copyright law should not be negotiated behind closed doors.
Continue reading...Justice Department Urges Judge To reject Google’s Digital Book Settlement
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Officials cite concerns that the agreement with authors and publishers could run afoul of antitrust and copyright laws. But they also propose modifications to make the settlement pass muster. In recent months, many groups have voiced concerns over whether the agreement would give Google too much pricing power and whether the Mountain View, Calif., company would adequately safeguard reader privacy. Consumer Watchdog praised the move by Justice officials. "This is a victory for consumers and the broader public interest," said a group advocate, John Simpson.
Continue reading...Court Urged to Reject Google Deal
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Justice Dept. Cites Possible Copyright, Antitrust Violations Critics of the agreement, including consumer groups and competitors Amazon and Microsoft, argue that it would give Google near exclusive licensing rights to millions of out-of-print books, potentially harming consumers by giving the company exclusive control over prices for digital books. "A single entity cannot be allowed to build a digital library based on a monopolistic advantage," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with public interest group Consumer Watchdog.
Continue reading...DOJ Urges Changes To Google Book Deal
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Open Book Alliance, a group formed by interests who oppose the current settlement plan, said it was pleased with DOJ's action. Making books searchable, readable and downloadable can unlock huge amounts of cultural knowledge but the arrangement as drafted is the wrong way to go about making that promise a reality, the group said. One of Google's chief critics, a nonprofit called Consumer Watchdog, said even if DOJ's concerns are addressed, the settlement should not be implemented.
Continue reading...U.S. Urges Court To Reject Google Book Deal
Friday, September 18, 2009
John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said he was pleased with the filing. "As the Justice brief makes clear, the proposed class-action settlement is monumentally overbroad and invites the court to overstep its legal jurisdiction, to the detriment of consumers and the public," Simpson said in an email.
Continue reading...Consumer Watchdog Praises Department Of Justice Action In Google Books Case, Warns Major Issues Including Lack Of Privacy Guarantees Remain Problematic
Friday, September 18, 2009
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog praised the U.S. Justice Department for objecting to the proposed Google Books settlement in a brief the department filed in U.S. District Court tonight. The nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer group had asked the Justice Department to intervene in the case on antitrust grounds last April. Justice announced it was investigating in July. Justice’s objections tonight went beyond antitrust concerns.
Continue reading...Google Said To Be Modifying Google Book Search For DOJ
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog asked the DOJ to enforce this offer. Privacy advocates oppose the deal because they believe Google will collect too much info on users without proper precautions to protect readers' privacy.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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