Google facing $500 million fine

**vinism** · 13 May 2011, 2:44 pm

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Google is on the verge of a $500 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice for accepting illegal ads from online pharmacies. The WSJ notes that Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! combined to pay the DOJ just $31.5 million for accepting online gambling advertisements in the U.S. A special HT goes to Venture Beat for bringing this story to our attention.

WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...448399628.html
Venture Beat: http://venturebeat.com/2011/05/13/go...-online-drugs/

**michael1981** · 13 May 2011, 7:28 pm

A $500 million dollar fine? That's an unbelievable amount of money. It seems like the DOJ is making a fortune these days from poker sites, and now from Google itself. Doing something wrong and being punished is one thing, but no fine should total $500 million dollars, that's very clearly a revenue raising tactic.

**rak** · 14 May 2011, 12:06 am

its hard work being #1... everyone wants a piece of you.

**DaftDog** · 14 May 2011, 12:37 am

I think Google can be classified not as "Big Business" but as "Colossal Business" and it would take a colossal fine to punish them appropriately.

**fernades** · 14 May 2011, 3:51 am

mmm.. bad luck Google.

**GaryTheScubaGuy** · 16 May 2011, 1:53 am

500m? There goes the change purse.

**craig96** · 16 May 2011, 5:47 am

Originally Posted by GaryTheScubaGuy

500m? There goes the change purse.

Haha, I bet Google would be like you can take 1 billion if you want.

I never get this whole suing business. How do they come up with the figures? And, Wall Street Journal is loaded, it is not like they need the money.

What about, "man, take them adds down please". Google, "ok, I am sorry".

Done!

**gamblingdomainer** · 16 May 2011, 7:01 am

No matter what Google says, I think it is also behind making money and now it has realized where the big bucks lies. Soon it would be accepting ads for gambling and casino as well.

**rak** · 16 May 2011, 7:52 am

Originally Posted by craig96

What about, "man, take them adds down please". Google, "ok, I am sorry".

Done!

I am totally with you..

Hi my name is Google, we're dropping all .gov from SERPs.
1 search engine
multiple countries
multiple rules / regulations / laws

its not as if they are going to get everything right.

**craig96** · 16 May 2011, 10:14 am

Originally Posted by rak

I am totally with you..

Hi my name is Google, we're dropping all .gov from SERPs.
1 search engine
multiple countries
multiple rules / regulations / laws

its not as if they are going to get everything right.

We love you Google.

Lol, I actually spelled "Ads" wrong.

**craig96** · 16 May 2011, 10:15 am

http://www.cartoon-links.com/african...securedownload

**wagerjunction** · 16 May 2011, 10:30 am

Originally Posted by craig96

Haha, I bet Google would be like you can take 1 billion if you want.

I never get this whole suing business. How do they come up with the figures? And, Wall Street Journal is loaded, it is not like they need the money.

What about, "man, take them adds down please". Google, "ok, I am sorry".

Done!

Well said craig!

Google generated nearly $30 billion in total ad revenue in 2010, largely from its AdWords system.

Imagine, even that $1 billion wouldn't put that big a dent in their revenue.

It does indeed look like the DOJ is on the warpath.

**casinoplanet** · 17 May 2011, 3:50 pm

Google may face even more fines, since the EU is also on their tail.

**rak** · 17 May 2011, 4:49 pm

Originally Posted by casinoplanet

Google may face even more fines, since the EU is also on their tail.

What for? Same thing? Pharmaceuticals?

**wagerjunction** · 18 May 2011, 1:48 pm

Originally Posted by rak

What for? Same thing? Pharmaceuticals?

Oh, I'm sure they'll find some excuse that looks half-valid when it comes to getting millions.

**rak** · 18 May 2011, 2:41 pm

French publishers sue Google for book scanning

PARIS (AFP) – Three top French publishers said Wednesday they were suing US Internet giant Google for scanning thousands of their books for its online library without permission.

Publishers Gallimard, Flammarion and Albin Michel lodged a case with a Paris court demanding 9.8 billion euros in damages ($14 billion) and Google has been issued a summons, a source in Gallimard's legal department told AFP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110511...tcompanygoogle

Someone make a "leave Britney alone video" but for Google please.
"It's Google bitch

please please please please please please please please please please please please

you bastards

leave Google alone!

please leave Google alone

LEAVE GOOGLE ALONE!

PLEASE LEAVE GOOGLE ALONE!!!

you bastards leave Google alone!

waah waaah waaah waaah "

**freedom2play** · 19 May 2011, 5:17 pm

The funny thing is Google has no problem reserving these $500 million while they expand their office space. As they say, there is no smoke without fire. Did they close their eyes? Don't forget google is made primarily of computer science geeks who like coding above anything else.

**xecutable** · 19 May 2011, 5:58 pm

Google, might have to soon take, the bookmakers' road. The About us would say, licensed and regulated by the government of Costa Rica

.

I just don't get what's the compensation for? How did accepting illegal ads hurt in any way DOJ.

**RyanTheRave** · 20 May 2011, 3:26 am

Quite shocking in all fairness.

**Barthezzz** · 23 May 2011, 6:08 am

500m is still a hefty fine, even for Google...

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