[IP] Google and 'neutrality' hypocrisy

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Andy Smith <asmith@Ivy.NET>
Date: June 22, 2006 9:59:31 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
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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