Speaking before the trial started, Google executives said that it was a fundamental error for regulators to treat the engine as a publisher of information, rather than a distributor.

BBC: Google fights Spanish privacy order in court

Google is also releasing the connector software as an open-source product so developers can build connectors to what Google executives said are about 300 other content management systems on the market.

FORBES: Google Digs Deeper Into Business

In Congressional testimony in 2004 and 2005, Google executives said they used "trusted" third-party verification services to ensure they weren't accepting ads from illicit drug sellers, and that the company had a dedicated team enforcing its policies for online pharmacy ads.

WSJ: Google Was Warned on Rogue Drug Ads

In conversations with Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan, however, Google executives have said that Knol pages will be ranked in search results the same way as any other pages.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Google executives have said they're looking for applications that make good use of some of Android's unique capabilities, including location-based services, accelerometers that can sense motion and direction, and always-on social networking.

FORBES: First Androids Return To Base

Google executives have said revenue is still growing.

WSJ: Google Tips Off Users in China

Executives at Google have said they are devoting resources to close gaps in the ad rates they make from mobile devices compared with PCs.

WSJ: Twitter's Mobile Ads Begin to Click

Google's advertising executives have knowledge of the initiative and have considered ways to capitalize on it, said a person familiar with the matter.

WSJ: Google Gives Search a Refresh

Agency executives privately said there weren't many details and there is currently more excitement about opportunities with Google and Facebook Inc.

WSJ: Yahoo Profit Drops but Revenue Rises