Google, Oracle disclose names of paid bloggers

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google and Oracle have disclosed the names of those it pays for writing articles and blogs, The Inquirer reported.

Google and Oracle had been ordered to reveal those individuals and groups they paid by Judge William Alsup, the judge who presided over Oracle's lawsuit against Google over its Android operating system. On Friday, both firms revealed the names of individuals and organizations that they have paid.

While Google produced a lengthy list of organizations it contributes to, Oracle named blogger Florian Mueller. Mueller's name on Oracle's list was not a surprise, as he had revealed receiving payments from Oracle in April 2011, shortly before he began writing many blog posts highly critical of Google and predicting defeat and doom for it at trial.

Mueller has previously admitted that he has been paid by firms such as Microsoft for competitive 'consultation services', yet he is not a lawyer, much less a copyright or patent lawyer. Oracle's latest disclosure might remove any credibility that was attached to his blog, which was cited by many websites for his opinions on copyright and patent matters during the Oracle v. Google trial.

Google's list revealed a number of academic researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence, networking, privacy and security from top institutions ranging from Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford. The firm also listed groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Creative Commons.

Google also disclosed that it has paid both Democratic and Republican Governors Associations.

That Oracle and Google have paid people is not surprising, however going through Google's list there is little that seems embarrassing or damaging for the firm. After all paying respected and highly qualified academic staff through research grants is pretty standard.

But Oracle's disclosure that it has Mueller on retainer could be damaging for Mueller's future credibility when it comes to commenting on copyright and patent issues, The Inquirer says.