The Guardian is reporting on how Google is tightening its noose around an information monopoly today:
Google’s latest news aggregator, Fast Flip, moves away from breaking news to longer pieces such as features and columns. Again, the technology company says it will help news organisations by sharing revenues from ads alongside the Fast Flip pages with them. Although Google refuses to disclose what proportion of revenues flows to publishers’ coffers, Brittin says it will be the “majority”,
and
With the debate among publishers now centring on efficient and uncumbersome ways to make readers pay for some content, Google again appears to be trying to carve out a role for itself. It emerged earlier this month that the company is developing new software that will allow newspapers to charge using a system of micropayments, as part of its existing Google Checkout payment system. The plans were leaked by US newspaper publishers and Google says it is too early to give details of how it would work.
The announcement summarizes Google’s initiative in saving large newspaper companies by pioneering a new advertising / micropayment structure, with the bulk of revenue heading towards Big News. Although details are scarce at this point, it’s safe to say Google doesn’t mind as they already own the internet.
Peter
Matt Staroste
Gabrielle-Jeannine
elizabethdoneathy
[...] 16, 2009 by Matt Staroste Edit: What ever happened to this idea? Did Rupert Murdoch say something like: ‘Nah, let’s go with the snub thing [...]