As one of the most omnipresent entities on the Internet, Google has faced a slew of allegations from industry experts and competitors alike about its purported monopoly of the search engine business. While it has not yet been found in violation of monopoly laws, Google has yet another battle to fight, this time regarding Google’s plans to make an online database of books. 
 
Google’s $125 million settlement with several book publishers concerning copyright issues has raised several eyebrows. Antitrust supporters worry that Google’s plans to make an online database of out-of-print books would make Google the only supplier of these books, …read more

Speculators continue to suggest that Google may eventually become the subject of anti-trust regulation on the part of the Justice Department’s antitrust division. The Justice Department’s promise last week to enforce regulations on monopolizing corporations strengthened these claims.
Several media companies and advertising groups have expressed concern over the search engine giant’s expansion from Internet search to several related markets. However, Google supporters argue that Google’s undeniable dominance in the Internet search business is in no way illegal unless Google tries to use its strength to stifle competition.
According to Google, the company would lose its dominance in the search engine business …read more

On March 31, Amazon posted a letter to “all interested parties” on its website to explain why they were changing their rules re Print On Demand.
As I read this, I think Amazon is saying “yes, we’re requiring in-house printing of POD because it will allow us to give faster service to our customers.” They then go on to say publishers and authors can still use the system of shipping a couple of dozen books to Amazon in advance.
Frankly, this statement seems weak to me and like so many I suspect it’s really a misguided effort to control more profits.
What do …read more