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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > July > 03 > Entry
Is Google trying to cash in on the orphans?
Orphan books that is. According to an article today in the New York Times, internet behemoth Google has attracted the notice of US authorities.
Here’s why:
SAN FRANCISCO — “The Justice Department confirmed on Thursday that it was conducting an antitrust investigation into the settlement of a lawsuit that groups representing authors and publishers filed against Google.
In a letter to the federal judge charged with reviewing the settlement, the Justice Department said it was reviewing concerns that the agreement could violate the Sherman Antitrust Act.
“At this preliminary stage, the United States has reached no conclusions as to the merit of those concerns or more broadly what impact this settlement may have on competition,” William F. Cavanaugh, a deputy assistant attorney general, said in the letter. “However, we have determined that the issues raised by the proposed settlement warrant further inquiry.”
The $125 million settlement agreement, which was signed in October and is subject to review by a federal court, was intended to resolve a class action lawsuit filed in 2005 by the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers against Google. In the suit, the authors and publishers said Google’s plan to digitize millions of books from libraries and make them available in its Book Search service amounted to a violation of their copyrights.”
The key issue here is the so-called “orphan books:
“Antitrust experts said the letter was the latest indication that the Justice Department is seriously examining complaints that the agreement would grant Google the exclusive right to profit from millions of so-called “orphan works,” books that are out of print and whose authors or rights holders are unknown or cannot be found.”
Google is trying to profit from all those books that are out there without anybody to protect the copyrights. That represents a lot of books and boatloads of potential to profit….
To read the article click HERE
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Comments
By the Strawboss
July 4, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this
Well, if the “books that are out of print” and the “authors or rights holders are unknown or cannot be found” then they’re up for grabs. Why shouldn’t someone be able to profit?