Important Product Director Moving From Google To Digg

When Google's current director of product management arrived at his desk this morning, he did so for the last time, according to a new report.  Keval Desai is supposed to be leaving Google in order to start a position at Digg.

Desai - who's been with Google for about six and a half years - didn't exactly do unimportant work.  In fact, he led the development of AdWords, which is one of the search giant's most recognizable products, and was also a force behind TV Ads, which has outlived Audio Ads and Print Ads.

Previously in his career, Desai cofounded a company with Michael Arrington and put in some time at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, too.

As for what Desai's supposed to do for Digg, Arrington wrote this afternoon, "He'll be Digg's first head of product, a responsibility that has been shared at various times by founder Kevin Rose, CEO Jay Adelson and Chief Strategy Officer Mike Maser."

It seems Desai's headed almost to the top of the organization, then, and will probably exert a big influence over whatever "ballsy" changes are on the way.

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Trade Group Calls Amazon NY Tax Law Unconstitutional

The Performance Marketing Alliance has filed a brief with the New York Supreme Court in support of Amazon.com's appeal, which argues that the law requiring online retailers to collect use taxes on sales in New York based on their relationship with affiliate marketers is unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The PMA takes issue with the New York law's classification of affiliates as creating a physical presence in the state for online retailers like Amazon, requiring them to collect use taxes on sales made through advertising displayed on affiliate websites.

Affiliates agree to display ads on their websites for another online retailer. They are paid when users click on those ads and take an action such as registration or make a purchase.

The brief explains affiliates provide a form of Internet-based advertising that is similar to traditional print ads distributed by a catalog retailer, and do not represent a physical presence for an ecommerce merchant in any state.  They have no involvement in the sales and marketing process beyond posting the ad.

"Since its creation, the PMA has spearheaded efforts to persuade state legislatures not to adopt statutes like this discriminatory New York law, which threatens the livelihood of thousands of individuals and small business owners and has the potential to strangle ecommerce with invalid regulation," said PMA director Rebecca Madigan.

Amazon filed its appeal on July 13 in the New York Supreme Court and a response is expected by September 16.

 

Google TV Ads Gets Game (Show Network)

Companies that haven't yet given Google TV Ads a shot should consider themselves presented with about 65 million new reasons to do so.  Google TV Ads has connected with the Game Show Network and its 65 million viewers.

To a certain degree, this move makes more sense than other advertising tie-ups.  Game shows often involve money and products that are available for purchase, after all, putting their viewers into a consumer-y frame of mind.

A post on Google's Let's Take it Offline blog also adds, "As the premier television network for games, GSN produces some of the most popular original casino and game show series on TV today. The typical demographic for GSN is pretty broad, with its audience consisting of adults in all ranges, who are interested in live game shows and interaction with TV shows."

Anyway, as the picture below proves, this development follows a number of other impressive partnerships involving Google TV Ads and various networks.  Despite the struggles and eventual demise of Google Audio Ads and Google Print Ads (with which Google TV Ads shared the "Offline" blog), Google TV Ads just keeps getting stronger.

Would-be users should know, "Once you upload your ad and set the CPM and budget, your ads will then be entered into the auction.  After your ads air, you will have access to reports measuring the number of impressions, CPM and audience retention based on accurate set-top-box data."