Henry Blodget, who is not liked by some prominent bloggers, can really pundit-ize when he feels like it. His recent posts are chock-full of gems:

On Viacom v GooTube:

Viacom doesn't really give a damn how many people watch its content on YouTube--they just want to get paid what they view as a less-insulting amount for the use of that content.

The bottom line: If/when Google finally makes a concession or two, Viacom will declare victory, and the lawsuit will disappear. Then, a couple of years later, when every media company in the world has a distribution deal with Google and Viacom's content is even less of a percentage of total views than it already is, the deal will probably get renegotiated on more favorable (to Google) terms.

On AT&T playing hardball with Yahoo:

In Yahoo's case, according to the WSJ, a new AT&T deal could significantly reduce the $200-$250 million in revenue the company earns from the deal (approx 5% of overall revenue). This revenue is probably at least as profitable as the rest of Yahoo's business, so it might feel an even greater impact on the bottom line.

On Microsoft's latest impotent / hypocritical attack on Google:

Today's speech by Thomas Rubin, Microsoft's associate general counsel, to the Association of American Publishers is entitled "Searching for Principles: Online Services and Intellectual Property." Based on what the speech says, however, it might as well have been titled: "How Google Intends to Put You Out of Business, and How Microsoft Can Help."

What Microsoft cares about is Microsoft, and now that Google has officially added "crush Office" to the corporate "To Do" list, Microsoft no longer needs to hold back.

On Internet gambling bans by Congress:

So it is not hard to believe that the law Congress passed last October banning online gambling was, in fact, just an act of protectionism, presumably sponsored by one of our country's most profitable and successful industries.

Good bloggin'.

¶ 3/14/2007