Google book scan project draws Dept of Justice's attention

30 April 2009

The US Department of Justice is probing a proposed settlement between Google Inc and authors of books the company wants to put online.

Online search and advertising giant Google made the settlement with book publishers' representatives and associations of authors such as Association of American Publishers and Authors Guild. Critics of the deal want it to be scrapped on antitrust grounds, since Google will be making money from the books it puts into service.

They claim that Google's scanning of copyrighted books in various libraries to allow readers to search through millions of books fall foul of copyright laws.

The case is however from being black and white; there are several grey areas, besides Google has also worked to protect and promote many old and out-of-print works to make them available to millions of people. These people would never have able to read them before. Many university authorities have been working with Google on digitising their collections viewing the alliance as a necessity in the larger intellectual interest.

Although the noble intentions that Google professes for its initiative may largely be taken with a pinch of salt, some libraries like University of California at Berkeley have also joined the Hathi Trust that has similar objectives. According to one university spokesman libraries think in centuries, while private businesses come and go.

According to media reports lawyers from the US government have looked into the settlement after talking to Google and the naysayers.