Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thanks for giving: $2M Google grant likely means another financial feast for rogue archivist, ex-wife, insiders at PRO

Congratulations to rogue archivist Carl Malamud, his ex-wife, and the directors of Public.Resource.Org (PRO). The California nonprofit public benefit corporation, founded in 2007 by Mr. Malamud to “create, architect, design, implement, operate and maintain public works projects on the Internet,” recently received a $2 million grant from Google “to support the Law.Gov initiative, which aims to make all primary legal materials in the United States available to all.” The grant should ease the opinion of PRO’s auditor about the ability of the organization to continue as a going concern. And, if what’s past is prologue, it likely means another financial feast for the insiders at PRO:
  • Carl Malamud, president and CEO of Public.Resource.Org, earned $144,000 in compensation for 2007; $147,962 in compensation for 2008; and $149,928 in compensation for 2009.
  • In 2007, Public.Resource.Org signed a related-party agreement for “services and office space” with Dover Beach Consulting, which is owned by Board of Directors member Marshall T. Rose. In 2007, PRO paid $21,000 for these services. In 2008, PRO paid $17,500 for these services.
  •  In 2007, Public.Resource.Org signed a related-party agreement for design services with Point B Studio, which is owned by Rebecca Hargrave Malamud, the ex-wife of Carl Malamud, PRO’s president and CEO. In 2007, PRO paid $16,833 for these services. In 2008, PRO paid $23,400 for these services. In 2009, PRO paid $14,000 for these services.
  •  In 2007, Public.Resource.Org signed a related-party lease for office space and data communication access with O’Reilly Media, which is owned by an unnamed member of the Board of Directors. In 2007, PRO paid $4,726 for office space. In 2008, PRO paid $6,808 in rent for use of the space. In 2009, PRO paid $7,080 in rent for use of the space.
  •  In 2008, President and CEO Carl Malamud sold to Public.Resource.Org computer and video equipment appraised at $34,100 for $14,000. The balance of $20,100 was recorded as an in-kind contribution. Malamud also donated a domain name for exclusive use by PRO, appraised at $12,400. This, too, was recorded as an in-kind contribution.
If you’re keeping score at home, the assist goes to Canadian science fiction author, blogger and copyright activist Cory "Boing Boing" Doctorow.

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