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September 15-30, 2005 Edition
Google Ignores
Publisher Agreements,
Digitzing Pushes Ahead
9/9/05According to articles on the Internet earlier this month, Google is pushing ahead with its plans to digitize books, despite an agreement with the Association of American Publishers and other organizations that it would suspend scanning of copyrighted works until November.
The huge search company rolled out standalone book search services in 14 countries August 30, according to an article in Internet News. On the same day, the Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA) called Googles offer for publishers to opt out of the program backward.
The international services let users search English-language books via domain-specific search services, similar to print.google.com, then read passages from the books where those words appear; the search results will include links to online retailers to allow searchers to buy the books, according to the Internet News article.
Google recently agreed to suspend the scanning of copyrighted works, except in cases where it had express permission from the owner. Apparently, that agreement has not been honored.
A number of organizations are opposing the operation. Among groups adding their opposition are the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) and the Association of American University Presses (AAUP).
The opposing have been quoted as saying that even with a moratorium on scanning of copyrighted books in place, and even with an opt-out policy being offered, copyright-protected works would be swept up in the effort make books available online.
Google has reaffirmed its plan to continue with the Google Library project. Under that plan, books covered by copyright that are owned by participating libraries are being scanned even in the face of protests from publishers.
Read more about this issue at Internet News.
and Marketing VOX.
