Google ends spat with Mississippi AG over his MPAA-tinged investigation

Google has ended its legal conflict with a Mississippi state official who opened a wide-ranging investigation into the search giant's business practices. A dismissal agreement filed in court states that Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and Google will "endeavor to collaborate in addressing the harmful consequences of unlawful and/or dangerous online content."

The document also states that Hood's office withdrew the original subpoena on April 22 and acknowledges that Google "remains subject to the laws of the State of Mississippi and to the jurisdiction and authority of the Attorney General." The agreement comes after the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled against Google, finding that the search company's challenge to Hood's investigation was premature. However, the appeals court opinion also criticized Hood's demands for evidence as being overly broad, noting that Google tried hard to comply.