Open Book Alliance

DOJ on Google Book Settlement: Get Me Another Rewrite

John Paczkowski in News on February 5, 2010 at 5:05 am PT

The Department of Justice still isn’t sold on the Google Books settlement agreement. In a brief filed late Thursday, the DOJ said that significant legal problems remain despite the considerable changes Google, publishers and authors have made to it.

Google Books Settlement Proceedings to Drag on Until Mid-February

John Paczkowski in News on November 20, 2009 at 6:53 am PT

The latest revision of the Google Books settlement has been granted preliminary approval by a New York district judge, though it will be some time before that approval is finalized–if it is finalized. Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York said Thursday that he will hold a hearing Feb. 18 on the new agreement, which will restore access to millions of out-of-print books, but may also one day give the company a monopoly on the largest digital library in the world.

Google’s Mission: To Digitize the World’s Books and Make Them Universally Monetizable by Google

John Paczkowski in News on November 16, 2009 at 12:40 pm PT

Google, the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers have submitted a new version of their digital book settlement, and while it makes concessions to the Department of Justice and others who have raised concerns about how it may violate antitrust laws, the new proposal doesn’t seem to have appeased all of its opponents.

Google Books Settlement Evidently in Need of Further Editing

John Paczkowski in News on September 23, 2009 at 10:38 am PT

Looks like the Google Books Settlement won’t be hitting the shelves until later this year–at the earliest. Days after the U.S. Justice Department criticized the deal and the forward-looking business arrangements it seeks to create as cause for “significant legal concern,” Google, the Authors Guild, and the Association of American Publishers requested a delay in a judge’s final “fairness hearing” scheduled for Oct. 7 so that they can amend it.

Voices

Antitrust Lawyer Slams Google Book Pact

Jessica E. Vascellaro, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on September 8, 2009 at 3:23 pm PT

Silicon Valley antitrust lawyer Gary Reback made his case against the Google Books settlement Tuesday, arguing that the settlement is illegal but could be remedied if the Justice Department insists that Google license the books it scanned to competitors.

Weekend Update, 8.29.09–The "Skank" Issue

Beth Callaghan in News on August 29, 2009 at 5:02 pm PT

As of this week, pretty much anyone can tell you–“Skank” blogging just doesn’t pay. Unless your $15 million privacy lawsuit against Google ends up going your way, that is. Rosemary Port, the person who used Blogger to anonymously insult former model Liskula Cohen, was unmasked last week after months of speculation and promptly sued Google for turning over her information. Hilarity ensued, complete with dueling morning TV appearances.

Weekend Update, 8.29.09–The “Skank” Issue

Beth Callaghan in News on August 29, 2009 at 5:02 pm PT

As of this week, pretty much anyone can tell you–“Skank” blogging just doesn’t pay. Unless your $15 million privacy lawsuit against Google ends up going your way, that is. Rosemary Port, the person who used Blogger to anonymously insult former model Liskula Cohen, was unmasked last week after months of speculation and promptly sued Google for turning over her information. Hilarity ensued, complete with dueling morning TV appearances.

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.