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Google agreement would digitize more books
In another major step toward changing the idea of books as we know them, Google Inc. has reached an agreement with publishers and authors to scan millions of books and post them on the Internet for users to read, download and print for a fee.
Under the agreement, Google will pay $125 million to settle a longstanding class-action copyright lawsuit with the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild.
In exchange, the two groups will let Google scan millions of out-of-print and in-print books and post them on the Internet through Google’s Book Search system. Authors and publishers will get royalties fees and a portion of the advertising revenues Google generates on Book Search.
Working with libraries in California, Wisconsin and Michigan, Google already has scanned about 7 million books and posted parts or all of them on its Book Search Web site. They range from classics like Homer’s Iliad and out-of-print college textbooks to modern-day children’s readers like Kumak’s Fish.
But the agreement announced Tuesday marks the beginning of a monumental expansion of the service, according to its backers.
In particular, the agreement promises to greatly increase the availability of out-of-print books - which now can be found only in limited collections - by making them accessible to anyone, anywhere in America.
“This innovative settlement breathes new life into millions of books without jeopardizing the rights of individual property owners,” Richard Sarnoff, Chairman of the Association of American Publishers said in a conference call with reporters.
Under the agreement, consumers will be able to find and read samples of books online and view entire copies on their computers for a fee. They’ll also be able to print unlimited pages from a book for a per-page fee. Institutions such as schools and libraries will be able to purchase a subscription that would give the users broader access.
Proceeds from the services will be split between Google, publishers and authors. Exactly how much the services would cost consumers, universities and other users hasn’t been determined yet, officials said Tuesday.
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