As publisher and author conflicts with Google heat up on the legal front over Google Print, publishers in Germany plan to avoid the problem by starting their own network.
Editor’s Note: Germany is the latest country to disagree with Google Print’s idea of indexing the printed word. Where do you stand with respect to this arguement? Discuss this and other topics at WebProWorld.
Lawsuits filed by the Authors Guild and the American Association of Publishers show that not everyone in the literary world is ready to be part of Google’s vision of a modern Library of Alexandria. Google had announced a moratorium on further scanning until November 1.
German publishers plan a local effort to replicate Google’s plans, Reuters reported. By establishing a network, search engine, and index of their works, German publishers believe they can better protect the copyrights of their works.
Almost 100 publishers will be part of the project, which will eventually include online book borrowing, due to begin next April. The project will permit outside sources, including Google, to search the repository online. But the full text of the books will only be placed on servers controlled by the individual publishers in the project.
Google has always contended its efforts fall under doctrines of fair use, that it is scanning books long out of print, and that its work is no different than indexing web sites or people recording television programs to watch at a future time.
David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
