Media Probe Points to Likely Piracy Actions by News Corp Operatives
Covert operations reportedly sanctioned by ranking officials of global media firm News Corporation were responsible in undermining the operations of the company's competitors in Australia, according to the investigative works of The Australian Financial Review (AFR). REUTERS

News Corp. Chairman, Rupert Murdoch has reportedly accused Google of being involved in the ploy of "Silicon Valley paymasters", according to CNET. Apparently, he has been using Twitter as the tool for allegations against President Obama and Google.

In a barrage of words fired across Twitter, Google has been accused of profiting from advertisements sponsored for pirated materials. Further, the search engine giant has been labeled a "piracy leader" in Murdoch's Twitter outburst.

Besides, President Obama has been accused of bending the rules of the online piracy legislation amidst intense debates ensuing among the senate and Congress to nip piracy in the bud.

Murdoch has a known history of getting into a mess with people on several occasions earlier. He had previously scorned at the Britons taking excessive number of holidays and apparently received criticism from his wife, Wendi.

However, it was later ascertained that the comments were put using a fake account registered in his wife's name. Murdoch seemed to be venting his ire in a different direction this time around.

Pointing to the unproductive plans of the U.S. President to curb piracy, Murdoch adds, "So Obama has thrown in his lot with Silicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery."

Reacting to Murdoch's furious comments, the Google Spokeswoman has stated, "This is just nonsense" in an e-mail sent to CNET on Sunday afternoon. She further adds, "Last year we took down 5 million infringing Web pages from our search results and invested more than $60 million in the fight against bad ads...We fight pirates and counterfeiters every day."

Murdoch's Twitter blast against the President and Google comes in the wake of ongoing debate about antipiracy legislation in Congress and White House raising concerns about it. The Stop Online Piracy Act (House of Representatives) and Protect IP Act (Senate) are being supported by numerous media companies, including News Corp.

Various supporters have sought the aid of legislation to protect their copyrights from overseas sites that trade in pirated materials and not bound by U.S. copyright laws.

Meanwhile escalating number of opponents, including majority of the tech sector, argue that the bills would threaten free speech, due process, and innovation while not offering any protection against piracy.

Google thinks otherwise saying that there are better ways of checking piracy than the ones suggested by copyright owners. It suggests proper online piracy legislation could be the way ahead.

Here are the tweets sent by him from his twitter account:

Rupert Murdoch
@rupertmurdoch

  • "Piracy leader is Google who streams movies free, sells advts around them. No wonder pouring millions into lobbying."
  • "So Obama has thrown in his lot withSilicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery."
  • "Sure misunderstand many things, but not plain stealing. Incidentally google blocks many other undesirable things."
  • "Just been to google search for mission impossible. Wow, several sites offering free links. I rest my case."
  • "Understand more than all allege! Google great company doing many exciting things. Only one complaint, and it's important."
  • "Piracy leader is Google who streams movies free, sells advts around them. No wonder pouring millions into lobbying."
  • "So Obama has thrown in his lot withSilicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery."

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