Throwing the book at publishers
Changing topic, Brin went on to discuss Google's legal struggles around the search giant's efforts to scan and digitise millions of library books - apparently without always bothering to get permission from copyright holders.
Somewhat surprisingly, Brin declared he was "surprised at the level of resistance," but vowed that Google would press on and attempt to come to some sort of settlement soon.
Another bone of digital content contention vis a vis Google is the outcry from publishers claiming the firm has unfairly profited by reproducing content from magazines and newspapers online. Brin indignantly insisted he took exception to this, saying that to pin the blame for the publishing industry's decline on Google was patently unfair.
After all, Brin explained, it was hardly Google's fault people were changing the ways in which they wanted to consume content, it just so happened Google was keeping pace with a wider technology evolution. The fact Google did a fair bit to precipitate this change in the first place, however, strangely doesn't factor into Brin's rationalisation.
Proving himself to be a master of ambiguity, Brin also managed to skillfully twist his way out of a question on the subject of a potential acquisition of Twitter. "I did not try to buy Twitter," Brin said categorically, following up his statement with "But if companies approach us we definitely consider any opportunities to buy." You'd have to be a twit not to understand Google's intentions there, then.
