Perhaps the most telling line from their submission: “Google believes that an open web benefits all users and publishers. However, “open” need not mean free. We believe that content on the Internet can thrive supported by multiple business models — including content available only via subscription.”

Let’s not forget that Google, like everyone, are in the business of making money as well. And as with all businesses it’s better to have friends than enemies and sometimes, enemies can be made friends if their common interests are important enough to put their differences aside…

In a political and economic climate like this, Google still needs Murdoch’s support and influence, or at the very least they cannot afford for Murdoch to isolate them.

One problem that Rupert and the news industry has with Google traffic is that they have low monetisation or economic value because they’re often not part of the site’s target market.

This whole “Google is great because without it you’d have no traffic…” is a myth. Google is probably the strongest search referrer among other search engines… but it is far from being the main source of traffic and more importantly, depending on the site, should not always be relied on to be the primary traffic source.

There’s a perception out there that Search forms >50% of a news website’s traffic…. it does not. In fact, you’d be in real trouble if it does.

The biggest chunk of a site’s traffic activity and interactions are generated by the smallest chunk of their audience; their core.

TBH, you could probably apply the “80% of my revenue comes from 20% of my customers” adage to site traffic/user interactions