BusinessWeek has the story (via c|net, and several other news outlets): Michael Anthony Bradley, the guy who attempted to extort $150,000 from Google in return for not distributing automated clicking software, had the charges against him dismissed. No one's saying why. Seemed like it was a done deal that they'd get a conviction.

Hard to say why the charges were dismissed. Perhaps Google was worried that it would have to disclose certain aspects of how they determine click fraud to prove that Bradley's software could generate fraudulent traffic. (Personally, I think it's a bit late for that now. Google can't possibly think it's a secret how this is done.)

Things that make you go hmmm, as the saying goes ...