I may disapprove of what you search, but I defend to the death your right to search it.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall
François-Marie Arouet
VoltaireGuys, guys, let’s not break how search works.
I don’t know about you, but just like Voltaire, I’ve spent my life defending how search works.
It’s right up there in my list of priorities along with freedom of speech, the non-aggression pact and a commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
After all, when I offer my friend directions to a coffee shop, it’s unreasonable for me to have to pay a fee to all of the other coffee shops they didn’t visit. Or at least I think that’s what she said whilst sincerely looking to camera.
If you can fake sincerity, you’ve got life sorted.
Bill’s Opinion
To summarise my earlier statement on this kitchen sink drama between Google, what remains of the Australian news industry and the government:
Two things can be true at the same time; Google can be a bunch of cunts and the Australian news industry can be a village populated by a collection of the entire nation’s village idiots.
I just don’t understand why we have to pay for either of those facts in a massively inefficient transfer of money via the Australian Tax Office.
Oh, and before anyone points out she was doing this media and Senate merry go round whilst heavily pregnant, I have been present at the birth of enough children to know there are plenty of women in this world who are equally, if not more, stunning and brave.
UPDATE: It’s been pointed out that the ATO aren’t involved in the proposed levy on Google, et al. It’s still not zero cost to the Australian public though, as new laws will need to be written and policed.
I am old enough that I remember a time when the Oz record industry decided that radio stations should pay to play their records on air. So for some months the only music from radio speakers was from mainly US produced records. Why US you might ask. This had previously happened in the US, and enough of their record labels had their arse, read profit line, kicked, that they were not interested in a fight with their free advertisers. Guess what happened. Radio stations still produce music free to air, free to themselves. Google are big for a reason, might be that they are used for searching a lot, but this is not going to feature only them. There goes not only some exploitation of the print shrinkers, but also any free advertising they are presently getting. Also any extra exposure their advertisers have been getting. It might be a matter of be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.