Tag Archive | "justice department"
Justice Department Reviews Google Book Deal
The U.S. Justice Department is making antitrust inquiries into Google Inc.'s settlement with authors and publishers over the Internet giant's project to scan millions of books and put them online. The Justice Department also contacted Consumer Watchdog after the Santa Monica advocacy group sent it a letter expressing concerns about the deal. "They talked to us with what I thought was great interest," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog said.
Continue reading...Judge Issues Extension In Google Book Search Settlement
Tuesday, April 28, 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."
Continue reading...Resistance Grows As Google Deadline Nears
Monday, April 20, 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.
Continue reading...Opposition to Google Books Settlement Jells
Friday, April 17, 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.
Continue reading...Internet Archive Latest to Object to Google Settlement
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Internet Archive has sent a letter to Judge Dennis Chin, the judge overseeing the Google/Authors Guild, AAP case seeking permission to file a motion that would ask the court to alter the proposed settlement to give other companies that have scanned printed books the same copyright protection of orphan works that would be granted to Google in the settlement. The same argument was made last week by the Consumer Watchdog group when it asked the Justice Department to intervene in the settlement.
Continue reading...Google Book Settlement Faces Legal Assault
Friday, April 10, 2009
A proposed settlement in a copyright lawsuit involving Google's book search has drawn applause, envy, and from a handful of critics, an attempt to derail the deal. While most groups concerned with Google's singular access to orphan works are considering filing briefs with the court before a June 11 hearing, at least one group, Consumer Watchdog, is asking the Justice Department to intervene and plans a meeting on Monday with department officials. "Google's going to have an unfair advantage against any competitor because they will have already settled this issue," said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court.
Continue reading...Google Digital Book ‘Monopoly’ Feels Heat — Redmond Blamed
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Complaints over Google's sweeping digital books settlement have reached a boiling point. And now, a familiar Google nemesis has called on the US Department of Justice to scrutinize the Book Search pact. Today, the consumer watchdog known only as Consumer Watchdog tossed a letter at US Attorney General Eric Holder and other DoJ officials, asking them to delay the settlement until some changes are made. Consumer Watchdog is the consumer watchdog that Google famously tried to snuff out after taking issue with its press release tactics.
Continue reading...Group: Consumers Not Considered In Google Book Search Settlement
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has joined the ranks of organizations expressing concern about the proposed Google Book Search settlement. The group criticizes the settlement on the grounds that it would give Google "an effective monopoly over digitized books" and is asking the Department of Justice to intervene.
Continue reading...Consumer Group Protests Google Settlement
Monday, April 6, 2009
With May 5 the deadline for filing objections to Google’s settlement with the AAP and the Authors Guild, the consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has sent a letter to the Justice Department asking the department to delay the settlement, which still needs court approval. The letter cites two objections to the agreement: a so-called “most favored nation” clause and the mechanism to deal with orphan works. The group maintains that because the settlement was negotiated between Google and the AAP/authors, there was no one representing the public interest in what Consumer Watchdog calls an agreement that will transform publishing.
Continue reading...Academics, Citing Public Interest, Plan To Intervene in Google Book Search Settlement
Monday, April 6, 2009
While much mainstream news coverage of the pending Google Book Search settlement has focused on the potential boon to researchers, concerns raised by librarians and consumers have begun to hit critical mass. One sign was a front-page article in the April 4 New York Times, headlined Google’s Plan for Out-of-Print Books Is Challenged, which noted that two sets of academics plan to intervene in the settlement. Consumer Watchdog, a public interest group in Southern California, also has asked the Justice Department to intervene in the case to “serve the public interest,” Helft noted.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
0 Comments