This sounds vaguely familiar

Maybe there is something to the newest set of "concerns" over yet another successful US IT company. Maybe they are just giving Microsoft a breather before the next round of "concerns" are raised. One thing is for sure, it looks like the whiff of cash may be in the air once again as the latest street-tax shakedown gets started:

Google is already under a microscope from the U.S. Justice Department and now may have European regulators on its back as well. Representatives from the European Union said Monday they have turned their attention to Google's digital books project and is seeking guidance on potential European copyright violations stemming from that project.

The EU said is would meet with a range of publishers, authors and other sources on Sept. 7.

Google spokesman, Gabriel Stricker described the EU's hearing is a "fact-finding exercise" and said that Google was "looking forward taking part," according to the The Wall Street Journal.

Oh Gabriel ..... that is precisely what Microsoft started off saying all those many years ago. The US mind-set is such easy pickings, they actually think this is about the under-lying legal issue (copyright, monopoly, etc), how quaint.