September 4th, 2009
Sniping over Google Books Settlement intensifies
Google details its privacy safeguards behind its book settlement. The Open Book Alliances says “trust us” isn’t a good privacy policy. Meanwhile, supporters of the Google Book Settlement have knocked Amazon’s complaints about the deal.
Simply put, the fur is flying.
As noted Wednesday, supporters for the Google Book Settlement and opposition are lining up in a big scrum that could get nasty. Google was sued in 2005 by authors and publishers for infringing on copyrights as the search giant moved to digitize books. Google settled in October 2008 with authors and publishers for $125 million and agreed to set up a registry to ensure copyright owners would be compensated.
The latest:
- Google says it is pleased about the support that its settlement with authors and publishers has received. The search giant also noted that it will protect information—like personal data from library records—after some prodding by the Federal Trade Commission.
- But Google notes that it can’t nail down its privacy policy until the book settlement is approved. The Open Book Alliance mocks that Google’s privacy promises:
Given Google’s silence on specifics — from privacy, to pricing, to access, to competition – we think it’s too important to leave to blind faith that Google would do the right thing for consumers if the settlement is approved.
- Meanwhile, the Authors Guild, the other half of Google’s book settlement, takes aim at Amazon’s response. The Authors Guild writes:
Amazon’s hypocrisy is breathtaking. It dominates online bookselling and the fledgling e-book industry. At this moment it’s trying to cement its control of the e-book industry by routinely selling e-books at a loss. It won’t do that forever, of course. Eventually, when enough readers are locked in to its Kindle, everyone in the industry expects Amazon to squeeze publishers and authors. The results could be devastating for the economics of authorship.
Amazon apparently fears that Google could upend its plans. Amazon needn’t worry, really: this agreement is about out-of-print books. Its lock on the online distribution of in-print books, unfortunately, seems secure.
Got all of that? Get used to it. The sniping over the Google Books Settlement is just beginning.
More:
- Amazon knocks Google Book Settlement; Opposition (and some support) lines up
- Amazon’s response to Google Book Settlement (PDF)
- A spirited defense of the Google Book Search settlement
- Open Book Alliances opens up assault on Google’s book settlement
- Industry fight against Google hurts education
- Google settles book scan suit for $125 million
- Google’s book settlement site
- The Open Book Alliance
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
For daily updates, follow Larry on Twitter.
Subscribe to Between the Lines via Email alerts or RSS.
