Book People Archive

Google's Not-So-Simple Side?

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http://insidehighered.com/news/2006/02/27/google

Feb. 27, 2006 | Inside Higher Ed

Google's Not-So-Simple Side

Rob Capriccioso <mailto:rob@[redacted]>

Google's quest to "organize the world's information" is supposed to make
life easier. But the issues surrounding the company's book search
program have complicated many academics' views of copyright, because
they involve many nuances surrounding security, infrastructure and
compensation.
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Varian said that it would be costly for Google to have to find every
copyright holder, and said that it "would be crazy" if Google had to ask
every Web site for permission to include its information in the search
engine. Google is "helping people to find works," he said. At the same
time, he said he wouldn't be surprised if the company supported a
"rights clearinghouse" system in the future.

Lichtman responded that Google needs to be part of a clearinghouse
solution "right now," before publishers and authors lose money due to
copyright and security issues.

Edward Timberlake, who said he works at the U.S. Copyright Office, noted
that after Google scans a portion of a book from one of the libraries it
has teamed with, an electronic version of the work is provided back to
the institution. "What's happening with that copy?" Timberlake asked. He
said that the libraries are doing "a lot of stuff" with those electronic
versions that authors and publishers don't believe they have permission
to do. He said it would be interesting to see whether that issue comes
to be argued in court.

"Librarians doing something illegal with their copies is wrong," said
Varian. But he argued that the fault would lie with the individual
library involved, not with Google.

(snip)
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