Because of my giant China-sized bone to pick with the Google Guys over their theft of written works for digitizing purposes, it is with one hand tied behind my back that I applaud them for yanking their company out of China. Not only does it takes guts to stand up to the tyrannical Chinese government on its censorship of the Internet, it also takes a willingness to forgo profits in exchange for the greater good—in this case human rights.
Jerry Yang of Yahoo, the infamous Moral Pygmy, could learn a valuable lesson from Google.
So could Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, who thinks that his money/status/business markets are more important than the censorship of an entire society of millions of people. By cooperating with the Chinese government’s censors, Microsoft will eventually lose in court of public opinion—and lose big time. Because Americans care more about the rights of individuals than they care about mediocre computer products and services.
Mr. Ballmer: I’m nominating you for induction into the Moral Pygmy Hall of Shame. When you crawl into bed with the devil, you wind up just as evil.
And speaking of evil, the motto of Google is “Don’t be evil.” What a great idea—although hardly original. Also great if they would apply it to all their business activities.
I’m referring to the unauthorized scanning of the books in the name of creating one big fat digital library of which Google, of course, would be Keeper of the Crypt.
There is an on-going lawsuit in the US District Court of NY that pits Google against Authors and Publishers. Google is attempting to rewrite copyright law as we know it by attempting to digitize written works over which they have no legal rights to.
Why? Because they can. Because they’re disgustingly filthy rich and have a Big Bully mindset.
Google has already finagled a settlement with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers. Really good for Google. Really BAD for the authors and publishers.
To Roy Blount, Jr. – President of the Authors Guild: You TOTALLY WIMPED OUT with your negotiations with the Google’s Rip-Off Writers Scam. I used to enjoy you on “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” But now you just seem like a namby-pamby worm. I’m glad I am NOT a member of your group. Because I think as President you should be a beacon of intelligence and courage for ALL writers. Sadly you are not.
The same scolding applies to the Publishers Association. You also folded like a wet napkin. As a larger body of businesses, you should have stood up to Google the way Google stood up to China. Same principle: The little guy fighting the good fight. But you, AAP, have no principles. Again, glad I’m not in your group.
[NOTE: I did attend an AAP Conference in San Francisco a few years back when former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder was President of your group. Back before it lost its moral compass. Back before it wussed out. She would never have succumbed to the Google nonsense the way you have.]
If France—for heaven’s sake!—can give Google the boot over digitizing their books, why can’t the U.S. Publishers and Writers?
In this case, I hope Judge Chin makes the RIGHT move. In the courtroom, he recently asked a Google attorney if copyright infringement was evil.
The attorney responded that Google’s digitizing scam (OK—he called it a “project”) would compensate authors. First of all, Mr. Moneybags Lawyer, $55.00 – is that what it is per book Google is paying? – something like that – is a JOKE. Second of all, it is NOT Google’s call to make.
So Google Guys, nice job in helping the Chinese people have a better life.
Can’t you offer the same courtesy to American Authors and Publishers and keep your greedy hands out of our business?
P.S. Why is it that you are the ONLY non-military persons ever to get to park your jet at Moffett Field? What cahoots are you involved with and with whom are you involved to get this kind of treatment? Just wonderin’….
P.P.S. Also wonderin’…. Does the fact that I criticize your business dealings have anything to do with the fact that my site has a zero Google ranking?
