Just like the "arrangement of facts" case from the 1980′s, Google isn’t doing anything new here. They’re arranging publicly available information in a certain way to make it accessible and marketable. I call it a patented Google patent search because the techniques they use to search are patented and so is the search results screen layout users see upon completing their search. The Google Patent Search indexed over 7 million patents, dating back to 1790.

I find it funny, and a bit ironic, that you can now use a patented search to search for patents.

Related posts:

1. Google vs. Twitter
2. "TJ Kelly" – My Google Identity
3. On Google's Changes

Yahoo and Reuters recently announced a new service (or product) known as "You-Witness News," in which people are asked to submit digital camera footage or cell phone camera pictures of any news-worthy event to Yahoo news’ website.

From a news/media perspective, it’s a great idea. Instant access to news from real eye-witnesses, average Americans just doing their part to help inform the masses.

But from a critical perspective, isn’t this just another step (or maybe a giant leap) in the direction information-as-commodity behavior? And, since news productions, just like every other media program, are simply content designed to attract viewers in an effort to sell products through advertising, the real commodity being sold here is the consumer or viewer.

How’s this for a perfect circle? Now users are being encouraged to actively participate in generating the very thing which lures them into becoming a tradable commodity. You-Witness. You-View. You-Get-Sold.

Related posts:

1. On Web Rankings

If a city is providing free internet access, what are the implications for its citizens and users?

• What do the ISPs have to say about this?
• Should we listen to what the ISPs would say?
• Will the government be regularly monitoring/regulating use?
• If everyone is on one network, what are the security implications?
• How will deadspots be dealt with?
• Do you really want the internet to be accessible from anywhere?

I can’t be the only one to raise these concerns.. can I?

Related posts:

1. On Portaduction
2. On Online Referencing

Take, for example, the Daily Jolt. The Jolt is a website that collects information like news headlines, weather forecasts, links to academic resources for students.

The idea is to attract visitors by enticing them with information that they "need," and while they access this information, they view ads that make the publishers a considerable sum of money. We have two, or now three, of these online reference sites born and bred right here at UMass.

The first was the simple and effectively-named, "UMass Links." Quickly thereafter, a second version followed, this time playing on the school’s name with, "ZooMass Links." The third, and most recent, edition is a new company called "CampusLive."

These three are now in direct competition with each other, with the exception that ZooMass Links and CampusLive are owned and operated by the same people.

There is a lot of money to be made here. The ads are targeted at a very specific genre of viewer, and as it turns out, there is a high demand for the service. Each of these sites simply collects and arranges information. They don’t author anything. What implications are there for providing other people’s copyrighted material? So far, none.

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