Google spent $720,000 to lobby government in 3Q

[OhioChick]

WASHINGTON - Google Inc. spent $720,000 in the third quarter to lobby on everything from patent reform and trade measures to online privacy, according to a recent disclosure form.

The Internet search giant lobbied on the regulation of online advertising and competition in that marketplace. Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) also lobbied on a proposed advertising partnership with Yahoo Inc. (nasdaq: YHOO - news - people ), which the companies recently abandoned in the face of a looming antitrust challenge being prepared by the Justice Department.

In addition, Google lobbied on efforts to map and expand the availability of high-speed Internet access and in favor of new rules recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission that will allow the use of "white spaces" - the unused, unlicensed spectrum between television channels - to deliver wireless broadband access.

Google also lobbied for so-called "network neutrality" rules, which would prohibit broadband providers from favoring or discriminating against online traffic flowing over their networks.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company also lobbied on H-1B visas and efforts to crack down on spyware, computer programs that can surreptitiously access hard drives to track online behavior and steal sensitive personal data.

Besides Congress, Google lobbied the FCC and the U.S. Copyright Office during the third quarter, according to a disclosure form filed with the Senate clerk's office on Oct 20.

Among those registered to lobby for the company were Johanna Shelton, former majority counsel the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Pablo Chavez, former chief counsel to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/11/ap5677258.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Hmmm...

So maybe that flu google article was an attempt to turn some positive PR?

[mainegreen]

2. 720,000? That really doesn't sound like much lobbying.

Is that much? Google is a big company.

[OhioChick]

3. I looked up a few other companies to compare...

Nike spent $120K lobbying government in 3Q

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D94CP0H01.htm

MillerCoors spent $380k lobbying gov't in 3Q

http://www.cnbc.com/id/27598261

Yahoo spent $570,000 to lobby government in 3Q

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/11/ap5677554.html

Kraft Foods spent $730K lobbying government in 3Q

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5666600.html

Software maker SAP spent $880K lobbying in 3Q

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/04/ap5646095.html

Microsoft spent nearly $2M lobbying gov't in 3Q

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Microsoft-spent-nearly-2M-apf-13526248.html

[mainegreen]

4. So that is a lot.

More than Coors? Huh.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

5. Google has pending legislation

that is very relevant to their future earnings. Not surprising at all to me.

[keepCAblue]

6. All the ad $$$ they made from the Yes on 8 campaign ought to just about pay for that