Tag Archive | "Washington DC"
Federal Report Shines Light On Google’s EMR Lobbying Effforts
According to first quarter federal reports, Google participated in lobbying efforts aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records in the economic stimulus legislation. This contradicts the Internet giant's earlier response to Consumer Watchdog, a California-based, non-profit consumer education and advocacy organization, that their claims against Google were "100 percent false."
Continue reading...U.S. Senate Records Reveal Google Inc. Lobbying Campaign On Personal Medical Records Law Despite Internet Giant’s Denials
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Washington, DC -- First quarter federal reports show Google lobbied on the electronic medical records provisions of the federal economic stimulus act, contradicting the Internet giant’s earlier claims that Consumer Watchdog’s report of its effort was “100 percent false.”
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...Wall Street Journal, AP Take Aim At Google
Monday, April 6, 2009
Traditional media is once again rattling sabers in the direction of Google and other sites that aggregate the news. There's tough talk coming from managers at The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press that include threats of legal challenges and even name calling. Google's plan to scan orphan books and preserve them in a database is also being challenged. Google has an agreement with the The Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers to scan the books, but a group called Consumer Watchdog says the agreement is anticompetitive and has called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to intervene.
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...Consumer Group Calls On Justice Department To Intervene In Google Book Settlement
Monday, April 6, 2009
"Orphan Works" provision and "Most Favored Nation" Clause Raise Antitrust Concerns Santa Monica, CA -- Google’s proposed settlement with authors and publishers raises antitrust concerns, Consumer Watchdog said today and the nonpartiasn, nonprofit group called on the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene.
Continue reading...It’s Not Just Microsoft That’s Balking At Google’s Book Plans
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Earlier this week, Google’s public relations team sent around to reporters a story from Wired suggesting that Microsoft was behind the opposition to its sweeping settlement with book publishers and authors over its book scanning project. I covered a focal point of the opposition to the agreement, the concerns over Google’s virtually exclusive license to millions of so-called orphan books, in Saturday’s Times. And in a letter sent last week, Consumer Watchdog, a public interest group in Southern California, has asked the Justice Department to intervene in the case to “bring about changes that will truly serve the public interest.”
Continue reading...Google Health “Share” Feature Raises Privacy Concerns
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Google Health has a new feature that lets users share medical information with others through an e-mail link. Google has tried to take safety measures. A link to a shared profile will only work in connection with the specified e-mail address, so the link does not work if it is forwarded. Also, all links expire after 30 days. Jamie Court, president of the Washington D.C.-based consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog doesn't think that's enough. "Doctors and hospitals have a duty to keep this information confidential, but others don’t," he told The Industry Standard. "In the hands of the wrong workplace colleague, friend or vendor, this information could be used against patients."
Continue reading...Google Seeks Starvation Of Growling Watchdog
Thursday, February 26, 2009
(Semi-)Apology For Money-Snuffing Missive San Francisco, CA -- Google has attempted to cut the funding of a well-known public watchdog, after the organization launched a "guerrilla" attack on its Washington lobby operation.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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