Google Library Project Raises Serious Questions for Publishers and Authors

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. publishing industry, through
 the Association of American Publishers (AAP), continues to express to Google
 grave misgivings about the Google Print Library Project and specifically the
 Project's unauthorized copying and distribution of copyright-protected works.
 "Google's announcement does nothing to relieve the publishing industry's
 concerns," said Patricia Schroeder, AAP's President and CEO.
     While publishers are eager to explore initiatives that promise to bring
 books to a vastly expanded audience through the innovative use of technology,
 the Google Print Library Project is digitally reproducing copyrighted works to
 support Google's sale of advertising in connection with its online search
 business operations without corresponding participation or approval by the
 copyright holders. Although the Project will get underway with the
 digitization of works in the public domain over the next three months,
 Google's plan calls for digitally copying every work in the collections of
 three major libraries unless specifically denied permission for a particular
 work by the copyright owner.  "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," said Mrs. Schroeder.
     "Many AAP members have partnered with Google in its Print for Publishers
 Program, allowing selected titles to be digitized and searchable on a limited
 basis pursuant to licenses or permission from publishers.  We were confident
 that by working together, Google and publishers could have produced a system
 that would work for everyone, and regret that Google has decided not to work
 with us on our alternative proposal," Mrs. Schroeder said.
 
     About the AAP
     The Association of American Publishers is the national trade organization
 of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's approximately 300 members include
 most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as
 smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies.
 The protection of intellectual property rights in all media is one of the
 Association's highest priorities.
 
 

SOURCE  Association of American Publishers