• Google Tries To Kibosh Funding Of Critic by Wendy Davis

    New revelations have given some of Google's most ardent critics additional ammunition. This week, it came to light that Google attempted to persuade a foundation to stop funding a Santa Monica, Calif.-based non-profit that criticized the search giant for its privacy stance. ...Read the whole story

  • mobile Local Mobile Search To Reach $1.3 Billion By 2013 by Mark Walsh

    Spurred by the burgeoning mobile Web and targeted advertising demand, U.S. local mobile search advertising will hit $1.3 billion by 2013, up from just $20 million in 2008, according to a new study by The Kelsey Group. The 130% annual growth rate the market research firm forecasts for local search spending easily surpasses the 81% annual increase it expects for overall mobile advertising (search and display), which will surge to $3.1 billion in 2013 from $160 billion in 2008. ...Read the whole story

  • Google's Smith To Pull Double Duty, Adds New Role Of GM of Google.org As Brilliant Steps Down by Laurie Sullivan

    Long-time Google exec Megan Smith is taking over as general manager of Google.org, but will continue in her existing role as vice president of new business development. Larry Brilliant stepped down earlier this week as Google's philanthropic lead to become Google.org's chief philanthropy evangelist. ...Read the whole story

  • email Study: Consumers Allowing More Company Emails by Gavin O'Malley

    If ever so slightly, consumers are allowing more company emails into their inboxes, according to a new study conducted by database marketing agency Merkle and research firm Harris Interactive. The study, which aims to measure the attitudes and behaviors regarding permission-based email among U.S. consumers, found that the average number of company emails that consumer allow to clog their inboxes has increased from 9 to 10. ...Read the whole story

  • gaming Parks: Casual Gaming Revenue To Top $1 Billion By '13 by Laurie Sullivan

    Brands looking to gain loyalty and reach into consumers' wallets might want to take a closer look at video games, according to a study released Tuesday by Parks Associates. The market has begun to gain traction across the board. Premium casual games, for example, will exceed $1 billion in revenue by 2013. Subscription services will become a major driver for growth in the casual game industry, increasing from $138 million to $417 million between 2008 and 2013, according to the research firm. ...Read the whole story

  • EMI Sues Music Search Engine, On-Demand Site by Wendy Davis

    Record label EMI has sued music search engine SeeqPod, music-on-demand site Favtape, and the companies' investors for copyright infringement. SeeqPod already faces a separate copyright lawsuit by Warner Music, filed in January 2008. In a lawsuit filed late last week in federal district court in New York, EMI alleges that both SeeqPod and Favtape enable users to listen to copyrighted music online. ...Read the whole story

  • Startup Adds VP For Content Alliances by Gavin O'Malley

    Big Stage Entertainment, a startup that produces three-dimensional software for users to integrate their own images into digital entertainment, has appointed Patrick Barry as vice president of content alliances. In this newly created role, Barry will be expected to drum up new partnerships with media and entertainment companies. According to Barry, the wind at the company's back is consumers' increasing demand for ever-more personalized media experiences. ...Read the whole story

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