Oracle admits paying Blogger. Is this the start of a can of worms?

Bloggers beware.

Google and Oracle have been instructed by court, to reveal the names of those it paid to blog. they are both currently in dispute over copyright and patent infringements.

Google has denied it paid any "blogger" and has asked the court for clarification, given that it makes "contributions" to many "influencers". It said it needed "further guidance".

According to BBC "Google said that it had not been involved in any "quid pro quo" arrangements for coverage. However, it did acknowledge that it had a financial connection with several types of people and organisations who it did not name, including: Universities and non-profit entities Organisations to which it belonged or to which it had made contributions; Bloggers and others who had adverts placed by its advertising program on their site and had commented about the case; Its own employees and contractors who might have commented about the trial; Expert consultants; Witnesses identified for the trial; Its lawyers asked for clarification as to how far they should go in naming those who fell into each category". 

Quite a long list, so we'll see.

One blogger, as disclosed being paid "consultancy" by Oracle, had been blogging highly critical posts about Google and claiming that Google would fail at the same trial. The same blogger also claims he had been paid by Microsoft.

Another is a Professor at a leading University. 

Don't be too surprised - this type of activity has been going on for a long time. PR Companies are regularly paid to post positive messages for Clients on Tripadvisor for example. I know that firsthand.

Indeed, being paid to make positive Facebook comments, are par for the course and we all know the paid tweets issue. (http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2012/06/wayne-rooney-is-in-trouble-again-this.html)

However, what it does mean is to be careful who you trust online.
Quite often we go into a search, see some data and take it as gospel, when it mightn't be. Check the source always.

With bloggers it's harder (which is why corporates pay them) because they seem like genuine opinions rather than paid "Ads" or comments. In some ways, that makes them more powerful because if you like a blogger, you tend to listen to their viewpoint. 

I think this Oracle V Google case is going to be shocking and will spread to other Social companies because it clearly begs the question - "And did you pay for blogs?".

What's the chances it was only Oracle? Nil.

As for yours truly - have I ever been paid? Not even offered. 
So come on, show me the money!