Microsoft has weighed in to the Google Books debate, filing a brief in its capacity as a publisher (of books, not software) in the class action suit that seeks to give Google the right to digitise every book in America. It wants the case thrown out, and it’s right. continue
Showing all entries tagged ‘Google’
Google Books: be careful what you wish for
on 9 September 2009
When free attacks
on 21 July 2009
Chris Anderson wondered if Obama’s putative pinko anti-trust policy (ie having an anti-trust policy) might interfere with Google’s cross-subsidisation of free services from ad revenues. continue
Why are computers so stupid?
on 1 February 2008
I know, I know. Hardly an original topic for a column. It’s like the Daily Mail running a front page about asylum seekers, or the Express leading on shock new Diana facts. continue
The pen is mightier than the sword, especially when accompanied by the chequebook
on 23 November 2007
Following weeks of speculation, Microsoft has confirmed that it will pay $240 million for this page, representing a 0.08% stake in MacUser. continue
Stand a little less between me and the sun
on 11 May 2007
In April, Microsoft called for an antitrust investigation into Google. I checked my calendar and it was the 16th, not the first. continue
Oh no, not again!, or, If YouTube is worth a billion quid, I’m a banana
on 10 October 2006
Google’s acquisition of YouTube for $1.65bn – admittedly in stock, or ‘pretend money’ as we laypeople like to call it – obviously echoes eBay’s even more ludicrously priced acquisition of Skype. Which in turn seemed like a repeat of AOL/Time Warner. You know, the first time as tragedy, the second as farce. Except that instead of an Internet company swapping its fake value for the real value of a real company, now Google is swapping a share of its fake value for YouTube’s fake value. continue
Don’t have time to read all those trademark protection letters? Just post-it them into your filofax
on 21 September 2006
Apple’s ‘pod’-trademarking shenanigans reminded me of Google moaning about people using ‘google’ as a verb. Trademark dilution is a serious issue, but who told trademark holders they were in charge of the vernacular? continue
If you can’t beat ’em, pointlessly ape their bricks-and-mortar retail strategy
on 30 September 2005
So the New York Post reports that Microsoft is scouting for a storefront on Times Square, ‘to play catch-up with arch-rival Apple’. Blimey, you think you’ve made up with someone, then one little iPod patent and it’s arch-rivals all over again. continue
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