Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google, Oracle Deny Direct Payments To Media

Posted by Soulskill on from the many-disappointed-critics dept.

itwbennett writes "Earlier this month, the judge in the Oracle v. Google trial ordered the companies to disclose the names of bloggers and reporters who had taken payments from them. Not surprisingly, both companies have denied making direct payments to writers (with the exception of Florian Mueller of FOSSPatents, whose relationship to Oracle was disclosed in April). But Oracle has tattled on Google regarding some indirect connections. In particular, Oracle called out Ed Black for an article he wrote about the case for Forbes. And Jonathan Band, co-author of the book, 'Interfaces on Trial 2.0,' which Google cited in its April 3, 2012 copyright brief." Groklaw has an in-depth look at the filings. Oracle's fingerpointing is based in part on this BBC article and this piece at The Recorder, both of which they entered into evidence. Google's filing (PDF) affirmed that they have not paid media for articles or done any quid pro quo in exchange for coverage. However, they acknowledged that many people receive money from Google through other means (the company's philanthropy, ad business, etc.), and asked the judge if he wanted further details about those instances.

41 comments

  1. My recommendation by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pie fight in the courtroom.

    I don't know about Oracle and Google, but I think I'd enjoy it.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:My recommendation by jmerlin · · Score: 0

      The important question then becomes what kind of pie?

    2. Re:My recommendation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hopefully the pies that hit Oracle's lawyers will have hand grenades in them.

    3. Re:My recommendation by ackthpt · · Score: 2

      Hopefully the pies that hit Oracle's lawyers will have hand grenades in them.

      I don't think they have those on the menu at the Google cafeteria.

      though I may be wrong

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    4. Re:My recommendation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      >The important question then becomes what kind of pie?

      Cow pie.

    5. Re:My recommendation by ozmanjusri · · Score: 1, Informative

      Hopefully the pies that hit Oracle's lawyers will have hand grenades in them.

      Fire one at the submitter and "editor" of TFA. That's a deceptive headline.

      Oracle was forced to acknowledge paying Florian Mueller, and also stated:
       

      "Certain Oracle employees may have blogged about issues relating to the case. See, e.g., https://blogs.oracle.com/hinkmond/ (blogging about Java ME). Oracle did not ask or approve any of its employees to write about the case and does not track employee bloggers."

      Note that Oracle's Social Media policy contradicts the statement:
       

      Make Sure Your Management Approves

        Please be aware that Oracle may choose to restrict social media activities that relate to your employment or Oracle’s business.

       

      Remember that you are not an official spokesperson for Oracle. Make it clear that your opinions are your own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the corporation. See Policy Regarding Communications with Press and Analysts.

      For this reason, Oracle employees with personal blogs that discuss Oracle’s business, products, employees, customers, partners, or competitors should include the following disclaimer in a visually prominent place on their blog:

      "The views expressed on this [blog; Web site] are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Oracle."

      By contrast, this is Google's statement:

      “Our reply to the court is clear,” Google said, “no one on our side paid journalists, bloggers, or other commentators to write about this case.”

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    6. Re:My recommendation by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      The important question then becomes what kind of pie?

      OK, I vote for Deadly Venomous Spider Surprise with whipped cream topping...

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    7. Re:My recommendation by currently_awake · · Score: 1

      Technology companies don't buy favourable press, public relations companies do that. Do what you're good at. Also good for telling a court you didn't pay off journalists for biased reporting.

  2. Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    et al are fucking liars.

    1. Re:Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Google are perfect... liars.

    2. Re:Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awww...you mad?

      How them grapes taste, Larry?

    3. Re:Oracle by JAlexoi · · Score: 1

      Page or Ellison?

    4. Re:Oracle by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 1

      Wall. Clearly. No love for the camel in today's software industry landscape. Java this, Java that. He's sick of it. He's sick of all of them!

      --
      Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
  3. Florian thread! by symbolset · · Score: 4, Funny

    And finally one worth having, too.

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
    1. Re:Florian thread! by poetmatt · · Score: 2

      might want to start by correcting the title:

      Oracle didn't deny payments to the media, they acknowledged it. Google showed that they don't pay anyone. Florian is "media", even he's shitty/shoddy. The issue is he was paid/working on his contract with Oracle before the trial even started, so his PR damage/anti-google-ness is now legally acknowledged so hopefully nobody will quote that fraudulent shill anymore. This oracle trial acknowledges he is paid, not how far back payments started.

    2. Re:Florian thread! by bmo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think that at this point, it was bloody obvious that Florian was a "paid for opinion" going back a few years. The first sign was probably was when he became a hired gun telling Munich that the skies would darken with lawyers over patents if they went through with their migration.

      And he's dodged the question ever since, especially on LWN, even though everyone "knows" that he's been bought off, because no sane person would hold his opinions. It's actually better for people to consider you bought off instead of insane, no?

      --
      BMO

    3. Re:Florian thread! by oakgrove · · Score: 2

      Somebody needs to tell these guys then. So much for credibility CNET.

      --
      The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
    4. Re:Florian thread! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CNET has been a Microsoft/anti open source cheerleader for some time now. They've never had any credibility for as long as I can remember

    5. Re:Florian thread! by symbolset · · Score: 1

      I think the saddest part of it all is that before he sold out he was capable of great work. And now he's trending toward Enderle - who now seems to be sort of trying to redeem himself. I guess a guy's gotta make a living, but this is sad to see. I'd rather he found honest work.

      --
      Help stamp out iliturcy.
    6. Re:Florian thread! by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      it was bloody obvious that Florian was a "paid for opinion" going back a few years

      It wasn't obvious to me. I assumed that no company would be stupid enough to pay for someone to spout things as obviously wrong as Florian - that they'd want shills who could slip misinformation into otherwise-insightful posts. Apparently Oracle has very low standards for shills. On the one hand, I think it's great that shills are so blatant, on the other I wonder if there's a job opportunity if I ever get bored...

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    7. Re:Florian thread! by bmo · · Score: 1

      I think it's an outgrowth of the entire PR industry. Instead of issuing press releases through prnewswire.com and others, you buy journalists and pundits to push what is essentially a press release, but under the guise of a third party endorsement.

      It's a really cynical way to do things. But then DiDio, Lyin' Lyons, Endull, Bott, etc, all did it before Florian did.

      --
      BMO

    8. Re:Florian thread! by poetmatt · · Score: 1

      and yet quizzically they are a big proponent of hosting software downloads (c/net downloads). Let hand, meet right hand.

  4. There's a distinction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Likening Google donating to the EFF and Oracle paying Florian is absurd.

  5. Internet media payola by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 2

    It's all over the place. I see incidental "actor tweets X" or "actress a big fan of X" stories right around the time their movies are coming out. I remember seeing almost daily reports on Megan Fox about every inane detail of her life suddenly appearing in the media, until the promos for Jennifer's Body started showing up. And, the Kardashians are being shoved down our throats everyday. Not to mention the scores of failed celebs who are trying to use their fame/endorsement model.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    1. Re:Internet media payola by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean actors who have current projects are of interest to the relevant sections of the media? LE GASP!

  6. dammit Google, you did it again! by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Funny

    Google's filing (PDF) affirmed that they have not paid media for articles or done any quid pro quo in exchange for coverage. However, they acknowledged that many people receive money from Google through other means (the company's philanthropy, ad business, etc.), and asked the judge if he wanted further details about those instances.

    stupid Google, dont you know that as a corporation you are supposed to deny and impede any attempt to get information about what you've done and tie it up in court for years? just look at Oracle, they deny everything until the bitter end and fight tooth and nail to budge an inch on any information at all. i mean, volunteering information? for shame!

    this "don't be evil" stuff is really getting in the way of becoming a well adjusted sociopathic corporation.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:dammit Google, you did it again! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you really that naive?
      You've left out the bit where Google say they haven't paid anyone directly in *this* case, and just because they hide their payments under the guise of 'philanthropic' ventures doesn't mean they don't pay at first glance independent sources to support and publicise their position. Hell, they've certainly been successful in getting their 'don't be evil' advert into the public consciousness.
      If you want to know about their questionable payments look into just how much they spend on 'political lobbying'.
      I think we can safely call them liars.

    2. Re:dammit Google, you did it again! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know you are joking. But if you think about it, being an ads company, google can pay anyone and even report it as ad revenue. Particularly, knowing that many bloggers make money out of this. Oracle, on the other hand, doesn't have this easy way to funnel money.

      I like google, but you have to admit for oracle is a harder trick to pull off.

  7. Florian Muller by dell623 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When it comes to attacking Google, he doesn't even limit himself to patent issues any more:

    http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/08/googles-motorola-mobility-lays-off.html

    Now he's not just a patents expert, despite not being a lawyer, he is also an expert on the whole industry, and has inside knowledge to tell us how buying Motorola is already a colossally bad deal mere months after the deal closed.

    I despair for journalism, if this guy is what passes for it now.

    1. Re:Florian Muller by Xest · · Score: 1

      What sickens me most is that the BBC, a supposedly objective and publicly funded broadcaster still continues to quote him despite having been told for months by hundreds of people that the guy is unobjective and trustworthy.

      It gives me the impression Oracle hasn't been too honest about this, it gives the impression someone at the BBC (and possibly other media outlets) are being paid off too. But if Oracle pays Florian, and Florian then uses some of those funds to pay off someone at the BBC I guess Oracle wouldn't have to disclose that?

      There's simply no excuse whatsoever for the BBC to be continuing to use Florian as a source when they're well aware he's a completely untrustworthy source. Someone at the BBC is being given a reason to breach the BBC's responsibility to be objective that much is certain.

    2. Re:Florian Muller by dell623 · · Score: 1

      It's just lazy reporting. Plus the fact that the mainstream media still doesn't see these issues as global issues threatening freedom and innovation, but merely obscure technology issues. So it's not given the same rigorous attention as say the war in Syria.