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[IP] Google and 'neutrality' hypocrisy





Begin forwarded message:

From: Andy Smith <asmith@xxxxxxx>
Date: June 22, 2006 9:59:31 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Google and 'neutrality' hypocrisy

Dave,

Here's a fascinating proposal from Congress on "discriminatory" behavior at Google. The proposal states that search engines can not provide preferential treatment (higher listing locations) for companies that pay them ad fees. Does this sound like any other proposed business models or regulatory battles we know about? Net neutrality ring a bell?

Basically, the proposal, intentionally I believe, draws an analogy between the business models of Google and Yahoo! with the proposed models from the service providers which would like to charge for premium treatment (access, ranking in search, etc.). What's particularly amusing about this is Google is now in a rather awkward position... Arguing that service providers can not provide preferred treatment while Google can. Very creative, and I would guess that the idea was planted by a telco lobbyist.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6346096.html




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