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09.21.05
Google
Responds To Authors Guild Lawsuit
 By
David Utter
As Google Print gets another legal challenge, the search engine responded via
the company blog to explain its position.
The Authors Guild has filed a lawsuit against Google to try and stop Google Print.
The Google Print initiative seeks to scan books into the Google database, and
make snippets of text available to searchers when a query matches content in a
book or books.
Google's Susan Wojcicki, VP Product Management, contends via the
Google blog that Google Print will benefit authors, not harm them:
"...many of Google Print's chief beneficiaries will be authors whose backlist,
out of print and lightly marketed new titles will be suggested to countless readers
who wouldn't have found them otherwise."
Searches that return results from Google Print will display a snippet of text
from a book, or more if a copyright holder gives permission, bibliographic information,
and ads linked to online booksellers and libraries.
Ms. Wojcicki claims Google Print does not violate copyright law, and its practices
comply with generally accepted "fair use" doctrines. Google Print will be one
big electronic card catalog: "This ability to introduce millions of users to millions
of titles can only expand the market for authors' books, which is precisely what
copyright law is intended to foster," she posted.
About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. |
