A live blogger at last night’s “intellectual law smackdown” featuring Google, the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers, and Wired Magazine captured the rancorous debate about Google Book Search.
Paul Frankenstein blogged from the New York Public Library’s sold-out “The Battle Over Books” as lawyers from the three organizations along with Lawrence Lessig and executives with the Library debated over fair use, compensation, and permission.
Google’s David Drummond made the same point the company has been making since the controversy started: the program’s purpose is to make it easier to find books, and Google isn’t going to make entire books available online for reading or copying.
Nick Taylor of the Authors Guild objected to Google appropriating works without permission and without compensation, and likened inclusion in Book Search to stealing. Allan Adler of the AAP echoed the permission argument.
Adler and Lessig seemed to have the feistier exchanges, with Adler attacking Lessig on his copyright views while Lessig said the AAP advocates a viewpoint where there is no free use or fair use of material.
It appears to have been an entertaining exchange between the panelists. Too bad they can’t take the show on the road, maybe do appearances at a bunch of independent booksellers like Stephen King did a few years ago, and give people outside of New York a chance to see the debate and ask questions themselves.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
