On the weekend that Google’s Legal Notice of their settlement hit the UK broadsheets, we wonder what it will take to get the debate on the streets. Do people care, or are they too apprehensive about speaking out against Google? Do people feel that they have sufficient context on which to base any opinion and is the settlement too complex for many to digest?
The more we read, the more questions are raised, the more questions, the more curious the newsprint silence is.
Today we read and interest blog at exact editions, 'Google Book Search and the Tragedy of the Anti-Commons', which raises more questions and some interesting perspectives re the territorial aspects of Google’s settlement. It again also raises the thorny issue of in copyright but out of print titles and the fate of these often orphan works. We may not agree with all the points made but welcome the debate that appears to be limited to the blog-sphere today and definitely off the newsprint and trade press column inches.
Showing posts with label google legal notice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google legal notice. Show all posts
Monday, February 02, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Great Book Bank Robbery - Legal Notice
On the 16th January on page 9 The Bookseller printed a whole page ‘Legal Notice’ on behalf of the Google Book Search Settlement Administration. We waited expecting some commentary or debate in the press but saw none.
The ‘Legal Notice’ was entitled ‘If you are a Book Author, Book Publisher or Other Person Who owns a Copyright in a Book or Other Writing’.
It went on ‘Your rights may be affected by a class action settlement regarding Google’s scanning and use of Books and other writings’. It warned, ‘This settlement may affect you because it covers US copyright interests in books published outside the US. If you hold such an interest in a book or other material in a book, this settlement could bind you unless you timely opt out.’
The notice summarised what the settlement provided, who was included, what material is covered and what you should do. 'The settlement class includes all persons worldwide who hold a US copyright interest in any book or insert.' Books include 'in-copyright works; novels, textbooks, dissertations and other writings that were published or distributed in hard copy on or before January 5th 2009... Inserts include; 'forewords, essays, poems, quotations, letters, song lyrics, children’s book illustrations, sheet music, charts and graphs if independently protected by US copyright contained in a book...’
The notice sets out the critical timeline:
May 5th 2009
Object or comment in writing
Opt out in writing of the settlement and keep the right to sue Google individually
June 11th 2009
The court will determine whether to approve the settlement at a fairness hearing
January 5th 2009
File a claim for cash payment
Otherwise do nothing and remain within the settlement and be bound by the courts ruling, including a release of your claims against Google.
The ‘Legal Notice’ was entitled ‘If you are a Book Author, Book Publisher or Other Person Who owns a Copyright in a Book or Other Writing’.
It went on ‘Your rights may be affected by a class action settlement regarding Google’s scanning and use of Books and other writings’. It warned, ‘This settlement may affect you because it covers US copyright interests in books published outside the US. If you hold such an interest in a book or other material in a book, this settlement could bind you unless you timely opt out.’
The notice summarised what the settlement provided, who was included, what material is covered and what you should do. 'The settlement class includes all persons worldwide who hold a US copyright interest in any book or insert.' Books include 'in-copyright works; novels, textbooks, dissertations and other writings that were published or distributed in hard copy on or before January 5th 2009... Inserts include; 'forewords, essays, poems, quotations, letters, song lyrics, children’s book illustrations, sheet music, charts and graphs if independently protected by US copyright contained in a book...’
The notice sets out the critical timeline:
May 5th 2009
Object or comment in writing
Opt out in writing of the settlement and keep the right to sue Google individually
June 11th 2009
The court will determine whether to approve the settlement at a fairness hearing
January 5th 2009
File a claim for cash payment
Otherwise do nothing and remain within the settlement and be bound by the courts ruling, including a release of your claims against Google.
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