Decoding Google's Net Neutrality Proposal Blog: The Pixie Dust-Free Edition!

The opening line of the classic J.M. Barrie book “Peter Pan” reads: “All children, except one, grow up.” Actually, that one too, and now the whole Internet is angry at Google and taking shots, because of its recent joint public policy proposal with Verizon over net neutrality. They are claiming the Silicon Valley search giant–in the most cynical of ways–sold out its long-standing commitment to the open Internet to make a corporately-favorable deal. Thus, Google took to the corporate blog yesterday to explain it all away in a post titled, “Facts About Our Network Neutrality Policy.” It practically begs for translation, so BoomTown shall not disappoint!

Hollywood Groups Weigh In on FCC Internet Reclassification

An alphabet soup of entertainment-industry groups submitted filings to the Federal Communications Commission today as part of its request for comment on a framework for broadband services. Specifically, whether or not to reclassify the Internet as a telecommunications service, which would trigger all kinds of juicy regulatory power. There are all kind of complex issues at stake, from net neutrality to piracy to open Internet to broadband access.

Google Tries Explaining Its Network Neutrality Non-Deal With Verizon, Again

On Monday, Google and Verizon rolled out a “policy proposal”–not a “business arrangement”–that explained the way they’d like to see telecommunications traffic regulated. That didn’t go well. So today, take two.

Still Going! As Promised, Viacom Appeals YouTube Copyright Ruling

In June, Google won a huge legal victory in its three-year YouTube copyright fight with Viacom. But that was a battle, not the entire war.

Welcome to the Schminternet!

Although Google CEO Eric Schmidt took pains in a press conference yesterday with Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg about net neutrality policy to distance the search giant from the idea that it could be part of any new “private” Internet, that did not stop a lot of pundits from crying foul. And also making up one of the best monikers ever for the possibility of a new toll-heavy information superhighway. That would be the Schminternet!

Google, Verizon Announce a Cake-Having, Eating "Policy." But It's Not a "Business Arrangement."

The super-fast version: There’s no business deal, the Web stays open and Google won’t be paying to move its stuff faster than the competition. But! Verizon and/or others want the right to build “new services.” And those could have different rules. Meanwhile, wireless is a whole different story.

Google Won’t Violate Net Neutrality if It Can Redefine It First

Once bitter opponents in the net neutrality debate, Google and Verizon reportedly are now allies in a joint proposal they hope will be a model for network neutrality legislation. Sources tell the New York Times and others that the two companies have been in talks with the Federal Communications Commission to hammer out a compromise that would allow Internet service providers to prioritize certain traffic on their wireless networks as long as they don’t prioritize it on their wired networks.

Patent Troll/Alley Thug Pleased With Salesforce.com Patent Suit Settlement

All that bluster and bravado and in the end, Salesforce.com chose to settle its patent dispute with Microsoft rather than go to the mattresses. On Wednesday afternoon the two companies said they had resolved the patent-infringement battle that prompted Salesforce.com CEO Mark Benioff to brand Microsoft a “patent troll” and “alley thug.”

Under FTC Settlement, Intel Will Quit Using Carrots, Sticks

At long last, Intel’s antitrust tangle with the Federal Trade Commission is over. The company today inked a settlement with the FTC resolving charges that it illegally stifled competition in the chip market.

Report: RIM Willing to Open Back Door for Foreign Security Agencies

BlackBerry users in Abu Dhabi take hope. Research In Motion has a solution for the security concerns behind the United Arab Emirates threats to suspend some BlackBerry services. The Economic Times reports that the company has agreed to share with Indian security agencies the technical information they need to monitor the BlackBerry services causing them discomfort.