Privacy

Google Said To Be Modifying Google Book Search For DOJ

September 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/LtrJustice091609.pdf">asked the DOJ to enforce</a> this offer. <a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/Google-Bows-to-FTC-Creates-Privacy-Policy-For-Google-Books-763554/">Privacy advocates oppose the deal</a> because they believe Google will collect too much info on users without proper precautions to protect readers' privacy.

“YOU CAN’T TRUST MERCURY INSURANCE” PHOTOSHOP CONTEST

September 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Our billboard in Los Angeles warning people not to trust Mercury Insurance (you can read why <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/donttrustmercury/">here</a>) was torn down at Mercury’s insistence. Now you can win a prize for rebuilding the billboard, virtually. </p>

Google Strives To Build Biggest Online Library

September 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Internet-search giant Google is making conciliatory gestures in an effort to blunt mounting opposition to a copyright deal that is the foundation of its plan to build the biggest online library, Google Books.  Urging the court to reject the Google Books deal, Consumer Watchdog, a consumer group, said last week the proposed settlement conflicts with international copyright treaties such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It "would strip rights from millions of absent-class members worldwide, for the sole benefit of Google," referring to authors and publishers who did not or could not opt out of the deal between Google and the Guild for the Google Book Search.

State Officials Report Thousands In Gifts

September 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<span class="body">“Brownley and Pavley’s gifts were small, and they were actually very transparent and thorough on documenting even tiny gifts they received, like a $2 flashlight, contrary to other legislators like (Sen.) Rod Wright, who listed many more expensive gifts, like a $15,000+ junket, and tickets to a Yanni concert and (Los Angeles) Kings games, which don’t really have much relevance to doing the job he was elected to do,” Mark Reback, consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog, said. <br /> </span>

Wells Fargo’s Malibu party house: Exec’s firing just a ‘virgin sacrifice’

September 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Wells Fargo Bank made a big deal today of <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-malibu-wells15-2009sep15,0,3886240.story">firing the senior vice president</a> who allegedly moved into a $12 million Malibu beach house that was handed back to the bank by a family caught in the Bernie Madoff investment scam. Execs seemed ready to brush their hands of it and move on. Get real. It's like the army jailing a few enlisted soldiers for the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal, while the command structure goes free. Wells Fargo's command structure has the same problem. </p>

Google Books Settlement Facing Scrutiny

September 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Concerns center on possible monopoly, invasion of privacy<br />  </strong><br /> John M. Simpson of <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org">Consumer Watchdog</a>, a California-based non-profit, said a key problem is the unfair competitive advantage Google receives under the settlement that comes from its attempt to pull an end-run around the <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/09/google_books.html">appropriate legislative solution</a> to the orphan books problem. “This is not an issue for a court and certainly one that cannot be settled by solving the problem for one large corporation and no one else,” he said in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week. </p>

Calif. Stem Cell Agency Aims To Strengthen Ties With Biotech And Pharma Under Updated Strategic Plan

September 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is reviewing a draft update of its strategic plan that calls for it to build relationships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, in hopes of speeding up the development and commercialization of new drugs based on regenerative medicine technologies. The strategic plan update's emphasis on closer ties with industry worries a longtime CIRM observer. "CIRM seems to be saying, 'We want to partner with everyone under the sun,' and that's the kind of thing I'm worried about," John Simpson, stem cell project director at Santa Monica, Calif.-based nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, told BioRegion News. "I am concerned about this emphasis on a closer relationship with business entities without really enough spelling out of how that's all going to work." </p>

Lawmakers Created Google Settlement Mess, But Some Urge Staying Out Of It

September 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

By failing to pass orphan works legislation in previous sessions, Congress practically guaranteed a messy settlement would result from Google's scanning and display of millions of out-of-print works found only in libraries, several lawmakers said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. Consumer Watchdog's John M. Simpson, perhaps Google's most vocal nonprofit critic in Washington, said the settlement "simply furthers the relatively narrow agenda" of Google, the Authors Guild and Association of American Publishers. Congress should pass orphan-works or fair-use legislation, so Google won't get an "unprecedented monopolistic advantage" over some books.

Official: Book Settlement Makes ‘Mockery’ Of Copyright Law

September 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google's proposed book settlement with book authors and publishers, allowing the company to digitize and sell millions of books, makes a "mockery" of copyright protections in the U.S. Constitution, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office said Thursday. The settlement would give Google an "unlawful and inappropriate" monopoly and strips away the rights of copyright holders worldwide, added John Simpson, a consumer advocate with Consumer Watchdog. "The deal simply furthers the relatively narrow agenda of Google, the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers," he said.

Congressional Panel To Review Pros, Cons Of Google’s Book Deal With Authors, Publishers

September 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Congressional committee will review the pros and cons of a class-action settlement that would give Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of copyrighted books that are no long being published. The antitrust concerns prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into whether the settlement will undermine competition. The Justice Department is scheduled to report some of its preliminary filings to Chin by Sept. 18. Other critics, including consumer watchdog groups and some library associations, are worried the deal will open a window on what kinds of books people are reading.

Congress To Weigh Google Books Settlement

September 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Others witnesses are likely to cast a more skeptical eye on the agreement, including John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit that has opposed the agreement; Randall Picker, a professor at the <a class="tickerized" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_chicago/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More articles about the University of Chicago.">University of Chicago</a> Law School who has raised <a href="http://uchicagolaw.typepad.com/faculty/2009/04/the-google-book-search-settlement-a-new-orphanworks-monopoly.html">antitrust concerns</a>; and Marybeth Peters, the head of the United States Copyright Office, who has also <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/its-not-just-microsoft-thats-balking-at-googles-book-plans/">raised questions</a> about the deal.

Flurry Of Last-Minute Objections to Google Book Project

September 9, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog warned that "if the settlement were approved, it would give Google a default monopoly to books for which the rightsholders cannot be located, resulting in unfair competitive advantages to Google in the search engine, electronic book sales, and other markets."