Privacy

DC Week in Review: All about banks

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> It was hard to get away from Wall Street in Washington this week. Former Citibank Chairman John Reed, free to speak his mind in retirement, endorsed an independent consumer agency in testimony before the Senate Banking panel on Thursday... </p>

Eli’s Egoland?

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>A billionaire twisted arms to use public land for luxury shops. Now Eli Broad wants to put his art there</strong>.<br /> <br /> Consumer advocate Jamie Court feels that the conflict is offset somewhat by the billionaire's purpose - an art museum rather than, say, a condo tower. "It's not like housing that he owned that he would profit from," says Court. "On the other hand, should that entitle him to have his pet project gain special concessions because of the knowledge he has?" </p>

Justice Department Objects to Revised Google Books Settlement

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest February 4 saying that that despite “substantial progress”  it still had objections to the proposed settlement of lawsuits challenging Google’s Book Search project, noting that the agreement continued to raise copyright, antitrust, and class certification issues. Consumer Watchdog, which had filed a brief opposing the settlement, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=32602">praised</a> the Justice Department’s stance. “The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company,” said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with the nonprofit group. “The DOJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the amended settlement, such as the one filed by Consumer Watchdog, make it almost certain Judge Denny Chin will reject the deal.”<br />

US DoJ Dissatisfied With Google Book Deal

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> San Francisco, CA -- The US Department of Justice on Thursday said it was still not satisfied with an agreement on digitising books made between Google, authors and publishers, despite “substantial progress” on amendments to the settlement. Consumer Watchdog, the consumer group, welcomed the DoJ’s objections to the deal. “Google offered only minimal amendments to its original flawed deal and the key problems remain,” said John Simpson, a spokesman. “The DoJ filing and the outpouring of other briefs from around the world opposing the amended settlement make it almost certain [Judge Chin] will reject the deal.” </p>

Justice Says Revised Google Books Deal Still Problematic

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The Justice Department announced late Thursday that it still has problems with a proposed settlement between the publishing industry and Google over the firm's plans for developing a global online library, CongressDaily reported. In a statement, the Open Book Alliance, which opposes the settlement, applauded the Justice Department's filing saying, it will "help to preserve competition, promote innovation and protect the public interest. The Department of Justice has made it crystal clear that the proposal before the court is overreaching and cannot be approved." The alliance members include Amazon.com, Microsoft and Yahoo, as well as some library, writer and publishing groups. John Simpson with Consumer Watchdog also praised the department in a statement for "standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company" and predicted the court will reject it.

Justice Dept Says Google Books Deal Troubled

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Changes that Google Inc and the Authors Guild made to an ambitious plan to create a massive online library were inadequate because they fail to address antitrust and copyright concerns, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. Critics of the deal have been a varied group that includes Yahoo Inc, Amazon Inc, Microsoft Inc, the National Writers Union and Consumer Watchdog.<br />

Feds Still Troubled By Google’s Digital Book Deal

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The U.S. Justice Department still thinks a proposal to give Google the digital rights to millions of hard-to-find books threatens to stifle competition and undermine copyright laws, despite revisions aimed at easing those concerns. Consumer Watchdog, one of the groups fighting the settlement, applauded the Justice Department for taking a stand against a deal "that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company."

DOJ: Thumbs Down Again to Google Book Search Settlement

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

In a big blow to Google's efforts to build a massive digital-books marketplace and library, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has come out against the revised agreement to settle copyright lawsuits brought against Google by authors and publishers. Consumer Watchdog, a critic of the settlement, praised the DOJ's opinion and predicted the judge will not approve the proposal. "The Department of Justice should be commended for standing firm in opposing this private deal that unfairly benefits the narrow agenda of one company," said John M. Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog, in a statement.

Google, NSA Partnership Raises Privacy Hackles

February 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> 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. </p>

Google asking spy agency for help

February 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google has apparently gone to the super secret National Security Agency seeking help in preventing cyber attacks.

DOJ Not Pleased With Latest Google Book Agreement

February 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> 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. </p>

Two Congressmen ask Justice to scrutinize Google Books deal, government will comment on revised deal Thursday

February 4, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Two Texas Congressmen <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reps-gonzalez--green-ask-doj-to-scrutinize-google-books-settlement-protect-individual-authors--publishers-83477272.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have asked the U.S.</a><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reps-gonzalez--green-ask-doj-to-scrutinize-google-books-settlement-protect-individual-authors--publishers-83477272.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> of Justice</a> to ensure that  the proposed Google Books Settlement not hurt minority publishers and small businesses. <a href="http://www.justice.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The department</a> is scheduled to file its view of the amended settlement in federal court on Thursday. </p>