The results, unearthed by Philip Elmer-Dewitt of Apple 2.0, reveal that Google spent more than 8 times as much as Apple on congressional lobbying. Both companies' amounts were down from the first quarter of 2012, when Google spent over $5 million, while Apple spent $500,000.
Public records show which specific bills Apple's lobbying efforts were related to in Washington. Among them was the Stop Online Piracy Act, the Protect IP Act, the Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act, and the Job Creation & Innovation Act.
Apple also showed interest in digital textbooks, education technology funding, wireless spectrum assignments, and online consumer protection bills, particularly with respect to children's identities on the Internet.
Congressional lobbying disclosures, via Apple 2.0.
Also included on the list of specific lobbying issues was "Electronic Waste, Energy Star, EPEAT, Green Technology." Its inclusion is noteworthy because earlier this month Apple decided to withdraw its products from EPEAT green certification, only to reverse that decision and admit in the process that the company had made a "mistake."
The latest numbers show that the distance between Apple and Google in money spent on lobbying continues to grow. For example, in the first quarter of 2011, Apple spent about 560,000, or one-third the amount Google and Microsoft had each spent in the same three-month span.
38 Comments
Don't be evil.™
Don't be evil.
Both companies evil are down from previous quarter
Both companies evil are down from previous quarter
Be slightly less evil than before.™
Be slightly less evil than before.™
exactly
Don't be evil.
OK. First explain why lobbying makes Google evil when there are few companies that don't lobby? Even Apple does it, just to less extent than Google.
This is a cheap shot at Google. Google is paying lobbyist because their search and ad business is in the cross hairs of possible anti-trust lawsuits. I can assure you their competitors are certainly lobbying for their side, hoping to get Google broken up as a monopoly. Google is just playing the game making sure they have a few people in their corner.
Frankly, I find the existence of lobbyist sickening and I think it leads to corruption, but I blame the the politicians that take the money more than the companies. I think Google is just playing the game. I suppose Apple people would rather Google just lay down and die. Let's see if Apple stays pure in a few years when (and if) Google, Microsoft, and Samsung prepare to bring an anti-trust lawsuit against them over the iPad and iPhone. If they don't lobby and simply let things fall where they may, then you can all point and laugh at me.