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Contents of today's ICOMP newsletter: 
Inside Brussels
Her favoured approach is to work closely with industry and stakeholders, but has made it clear that if that does not produce proper solutions "the public authorities have to take their responsibilities in order to achieve our common objectives". When questioned by MEPs about net neutrality, Ms Kroes replied that the Commission supports the concept and intends to protect it. The core issue was that internet providers "shouldn't be allowed to limit the access to service or content out of commercial motivation but only in cases of security issues and spamming", she explained. Although "not a goal in itself, but a means to make changes", Ms Kroes spoke of her ambition to create a single European online market by the end of her mandate in 2015, suggesting that this could be achieved by bringing together industry, users and regulators. Ms Kroes had a shaky start to her new tenure: her initial public hearing was followed by a second meeting behind closed doors after she failed to impress lawmakers. Following the second meeting, MEPs seemed confident that they could work with the new Commissioner, who has already assembled a strong team around her.
There have been numerous developments in Germany recently that have brought focus to online competition issues in Europe and have seen Google come under heavy criticism. In an interview with Spiegel, German Justice Minister, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, warned that Google collects too much personal information on people and is fast becoming a monopoly that needs to be more transparent. Within a week of these comments German magazine and newspaper publishers filed a complaint with the Federal Cartel Office. It is understood that the complaint related to online advertising revenue. An article from the New York Times, An Antitrust Complaint for Google in Germany, outlines the case. Furthermore, Paul-Bernhard Kallen, CEO of Burda Media - one of the largest publishing companies in Germany, reproached Google at the recent Digital-Life-Design conference in Munich. During a heated exchange Mr Kallen accused Google of controlling the market, a lack of transparency and, retaining a disproportionate share of advertising revenues, exclaiming that Google 'owns the road'. The final development saw the planned alliance between marketing firms G+J Electronic Media Sales (EMS), IP Deutschland, Seven-One Media and Tomorrow Focus receiving the green light from the EU Commission. The four partners will form a company that will bundle their online reach and raise their competitive position vs. "the quasi-monopolist" Google (quoting from the Horizont report - in German). For those who were unaware, 28 January 2010 marked the fourth annual Data Protection Day (known as Data Privacy Day in North America). Supported by global companies including Google, Microsoft and Intel, and celebrated in 27 European countries, as well as the United States and Canada, Data Protection Day aims to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of data privacy and protection. As increasing numbers of people share more of their lives online through social networks, blogging and other online services the importance of their being fully aware and in control of the information they share has never been so significant. To mark the occasion various awareness-raising events were organised, on both sides of the Atlantic, by the privacy community and industry as well as by national bodies for the general public and specific target audiences. In the United States the Federal Trade Commission held a series of roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data. While in Europe a number of activities took place such as the launch of a video clip entitled Think Privacy aimed at showing the importance of being careful when sharing your personal data and a conference organised in collaboration with the Belgian Data Protection Authority and the European Data Protection Supervisor. As the deadline for submitting objections to the revised Google Book Settlement approached (28 January 2010) a number of groups and organisations took the opportunity to air their views. Amongst those filing an objection to the deal was a collective of Indian authors and publishers, including the Federation of Indian Publishers, who described the Settlement as going against 'every international treaty that governs Copyright laws'. Writing in her Wall Street Journal blog (Amazon and Others Slam Revised Google Books Deal), Jessica Vascellaro outlined that the objections of Amazon to the revised settlement remain consistent with the original objections, namely that a monopoly would likely be created by giving Google exclusive rights. The original settlement was sent back to be redrafted after receiving widespread criticism from across the world. A court in New York will now decide whether or not to approve the revised settlement, a fairness hearing is scheduled for 18 February. What Asterix And Google Have in Common
Member Spotlight: Foundem
Welcome to a new Member: One News Page ICOMP is pleased to announce the joining of a new member.
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ICOMP member Sylvie Fodor of CEPIC has given an interesting view on the challenges faced by French publisher La Martinière in a blog post entitled 
Founded in 2005, 
