Google Book Search Settlement

Google to Create World’s Largest Searchable Archive of Arguments Against Google Books

John Paczkowski in News on September 11, 2009 at 8:07 am PT

Add another name to the list of opponents of the Google Book Search Settlement: Marybeth Peters, U.S. Register of Copyrights. In testimony before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Thursday, Peters tarred the deal as “fundamentally at odds with the law” and villainized Google, saying the company is making a “mockery” of the copyright protections in the U.S. Constitution.

Open Book Alliance Throws Book at Google

John Paczkowski in News on August 26, 2009 at 1:07 pm PT

The Open Book Alliance–or “Sour Grapes Alliance,” as Google likes to call it–formally launched Wednesday afternoon, debuting a new Web site, as well as the manifesto with which it is challenging Google’s settlement with authors and publishers.

Weekend Update, 8.22.09–The Musical Chairs Edition

Beth Callaghan in News on August 22, 2009 at 12:32 pm PT

The week ending Aug. 21 began Aug. 17 with another round of digital musical chairs–BoomTown reported that David Dickman, VP of West Coast sales for Yahoo, will be leaving the company at the end of the month for Warner Bros. to work in digital sales. Also, after a five-month tour of Europe and its finer Web establishments, Yahoo seems poised to name a new international head.

Internet Archive Announces Everybody-Against-Google Coalition

John Paczkowski in News on August 21, 2009 at 4:30 am PT

As the Google Book Search Settlement nears a Sept. 4 deadline for rights-holders to opt out of the deal, some powerful interests are rallying to oppose it. Rallied by the Internet Archive and veteran Silicon Valley antitrust lawyer Gary Reback, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and others are forming a coalition called the Open Book Alliance. Its purpose: To make the case to an already concerned Justice Department that the $125 million settlement is anticompetitive.