Arthur Frommer reportedly takes back brand from Google, will
keep guidebooks going  The tale of Google and Frommer's famed
travel guides has taken another twist this evening. Associated
Press writer Beth Harpaz reports Arthur Frommer confirmed over
the phone that he has retaken control of the brand from Google,
and plans to continue publishing them in e-book and print
formats, as well as maintaining the website. This comes after
Google acquired the brand from publisher Wiley in 2012, followed
by's revelation last month that it apparently intended to shut
production of the books down.  We're told by a Google
spokesperson (check after the break for the full statement) that
it has integrated the content acquired from Frommer's and Wiley
into its products including Google+ Local, but returned the
brand to the founder and will continue licensing "certain
content" to him. Why things took this circuitous route right
back to the man who started it all back in 1957 is unknown and
terms of the agreement were not disclo