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.

“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. ⬆