12.22.09
Gemini version available ♊︎Readers’ Response to Microsoft and American Library Association (ALA), Job Cremation
Summary: Nicolas Sarkozy is not the only pusher against Google who is at the same time mating with Microsoft executives; Microsoft is not unique when it comes to workforce/tax abuse, either
A FEW days ago we wrote about the struggle against Google's book-scanning services, which are exactly the same as Microsoft’s. Based on prior cases that are very well documented and confirmed, we thought that Microsoft may have had something to do with aggravating Google in this case. Microsoft previously helped publishers sue Google over Books and a variety of other services like YouTube.
One of our respected readers, who prefers to remain anonymous, has sent us some interesting details connecting Microsoft to the party which is giving Google a hard time.
“What a coincidence… back in 2003, Microsoft’s own library effort was awarded recognition by the ‘Special Library Association’s (SLA) Business & Finance Division,’ whatever that is.”
–AnonymousRegarding the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries, worth watching is this: “Libraries Online!: Microsoft Partnering with American Library Association (ALA)”
Also: “Even James Grimmelmann of New York Law School’s Institute for Information Law and Policy [...] insist that Microsoft’s funding of the institute’s research on the book settlement doesn’t influence its conclusions.”
“What a coincidence,” says our reader, “back in 2003, Microsoft’s own library effort was awarded recognition by the ‘Special Library Association’s (SLA) Business & Finance Division,’ whatever that is. Is this anything to do with the current people objecting to the DOJ?”
Another person worth watching is Lee Dirks. “Lee also teaches as adjunct faculty at the iSchool at the University of Washington, and serves on the advisory boards for the University of Washington Libraries,” says his page.
Our reader found that suspicious. In relation to the above he asked, “what’s the name of that special Microsoft effort [in education]?” That would be EDGI.
Another reader responds to yesterday's post about how Microsoft lobbies to cheapen the workforce. “They’re all against jobs,” says this one politician and our reader adds: “You’re probably already aware of this issue, but here is a link which points out the disparity between the interests of American big business and the interests of the American people. After all, it’s already well known that Microsoft lobbies for more visas for cheap labour from overseas rather than strongly push for better educated American workers. Not surprisingly, the bigger picture follows a similar pattern.”
Google is currently making some headlines regarding a related subject, so scepticism about Google does remain justified. The enemy of an enemy can sometimes be both an enemy and a friend. █
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williami said,
December 22, 2009 at 5:17 pm
And that reminds me of the time the ALA dissmissed the FSF as an “anti-user” (in their words) foundation. ALA is lying, the FSF is not “anti-user”.
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
That’s useful to know.
I’m sure that Gates loves ALA.
williami Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Acuauly, I got misleaded. The source that I got it from was a settlement about Google books, and “anti-user” means that they are arguing Google’s system is propertary, not that the foundatation is “anti-user”. I blame ALA for poor documation.
Intrepidly, according to the ALA, Micro$oft is arguing that Google’s system is “anti competive”. That’s just a BLATANT LIE, as M$ is very anti completive by nature. Yet another fail’d M$ stunt aganst Google.