Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Google Book Rights Registry Will Enhance Book Search
New doors may be opened to online reading as a result of Google's $125 million dollar settlement with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers.
The AG and AAP weren't thrilled about Google's former partnership with a group of universities that agreed to scan their collections into an online collection. To reach a reasonable settlement, Google devised a solution that should appease everyone involved and created the Book Rights Registry.
Pending final approval from a U.S. District Court, the registry will allow holders of copyrighted books to scan their works into an online collection and receive compensation from subscription services or ad revenue.
According to Google, the new registry's system will offer:
- Subscription services that provide participating universities free access to a variety of libraries worldwide.
- A virtual bookshelf, with the chance to buy lifetime rights to read and print books scanned through Google.
- Out-of-print books for preview and purchase.
Roy Blount Jr., president of the Authors Guild told BBC:
As a reader and researcher, I'll be delighted to stop by my local library to browse the stacks of some of the world's great libraries.As an author, well, we appreciate payment when people use our work. This deal makes good sense.
The Book Rights Registry is one of many changes in media where the consumer is given more power and access without a negative effect on the provider or producer.
By Matt O'Hern at 01:40 PM | Comments (1)
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