Report: Microsoft Holds 'Screw Google' Meetings

Microsoft has dismissed reports that it holds "screw Google" meetings once a week in Washington.

Microsoft has denied that the company holds meetings where the company develops strategies to undermine search giant Google. The denial follows a report by Daily Finance that said, "Microsoft is at the center of a group of companies who see Google as a threat to them in some combination of business and policy...the effort is designed make Google look like the big high-tech bad guy here."

Daily finance went on to say that these meetings are known by some insiders as "screw Google" meetings.

Citing a source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to avoid retribution, Daily Finance reports that the meetings occur once a week, are led by Fred Humphries, Microsoft's chief lobbyist in D.C., and include several people who work for Law Media Group.

"Law Media Group has several people who work full-time on Google-bashing," the source told Daily Finance. "Everybody knows Microsoft is trying to throw roadblocks at Google and knock them off their game. Microsoft is trying to harm Google in the regulatory, legal, and litigation arenas because they're having problems with Google in the competitive marketplace."

Ginny Terzano, Microsoft's Washington spokesperson, called the report absurd.

"This is absurd. While Google is a healthy competitor, Fred is focused on advancing policies that benefit our partners and consumers, and not running meetings of the type you describe. Your sources are badly misinformed, and your information is wrong."

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