Google Library Put on Hold
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Written By Reprise Media | August 12, 2005 | Share This
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Google has put its library project, a massive effort to scan out-of-print and copyrighted works so that their text is searchable on the web, on hold yesterday after several groups voiced complains over copyright violations.
The Google Blog, in a post titled Making Books Easier to Find, said that Google will stop scanning in copyright-protected works until changes to its Google Print Publisher Program roll out in November.
“As with many ambitious ideas, Google Print has sparked a healthy amount of discussion,” says Google Print Product Manager Adam Smith, which is Googlespeak for “We ticked a lot of people off.”
To their credit though, it looks like Google is looking to give publishers a means of opting-out if they don’t want any of their books scanned. Of course you’ve got some asking the question “Why should we be the ones to have to opt out?” and that’s valid.
“Google’s procedure shifts the responsibility for preventing infringement to the copyright owner rather than the user, turning every principle of copyright law on its ear.”
That’s Patricia Schroeder, CEO of the Association of American Publishers.
If you’re still undecided like we are, here’s an article on BoingBoing with some good links to both sides of the debate.
Topics: Google |