Microsoft, Yahoo, & Amazon Will Fight Google Book Settlement
Aug 20, 2009 at 8:18pm ET by Matt McGee
There are several reports (see New York Times and Wall Street Journal) that Microsoft, Yahoo, and Amazon will join a coalition aimed at challenging the Google book settlement.
Peter Brantley, director of the Internet Archive, which is putting the coalition together, tells the Wall Street Journal that coalition members want the agreement revised, but aren’t necessarily pushing to have it blocked.
The settlement stems from a lawsuit that claimed Google’s practice of scanning books and making them available online violated the copyrights of authors and publishers. Google settled the lawsuit last October, and a federal judge has already given tentative approval of the settlement. But, in response to growing opposition from authors’ groups and others in the publishing industry, final approval of the settlement was delayed until a Fairness Hearing scheduled for October 7th.
The new coalition stepping up now to challenge the agreement includes Microsoft, Yahoo, Amazon, and “a number of other library associations,” according to the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times received confirmation from Microsoft and Yahoo of their involvement, but not from Amazon. The Times also says the group is tentatively being called the Open Book Alliance. It’ll be formally announced within a couple weeks.
This isn’t Microsoft’s first involvement in fighting the Google book settlement: We reported in April that Microsoft was helping to fund opposition from New York Law School. The US Justice Department has also confirmed its own investigation into the settlement.
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: Book Search, Legal: Copyright sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
- kloeprich said " The recent news confirms suspicions I’ve had that News Corp and MS were already in negotiations with"
- Susannah said " I can't wait to try some of these tips this week. What a resource! It's like having a coffee with 21"
- dian said " I haven't tried that yet but if it is the way Mazter is saying I think it won't going to do any good"
FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!
Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›
STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
- SMX West - March 2-4, 2010
- SMX Munich - March 23-24, 2010
- SMX Toronto - April 8-9, 2010
- SMX Sydney - April 22-23, 2010
- SMX Advanced London - May 17-18, 2010
- SMX Advanced Seattle - June 8-9, 2010
- SMX East - October 4-6, 2010
- SMX Stockholm - October, 2010
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
- Making Online Marketing Relevant and Responsive: Tactics and A Tool for Success - November 17, 2009
- Ask the Search Engines: War Stories from the World Tour - December 1, 2009
- Turning Clients Into PPC Champions: How to Make PPC Meaningful to "the Other Guys" - December 8, 2009
TRACK US SOCIALLY
- Wall Street Journal Recommended Reading
- Ad Age Power 150 Blog
- Technorati Top 100 Blog
- Techmeme Leaderboard Source
- Best Search Engine Community/Forum
Featured sites from our Blogroll
Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!
Become a premium member today and receive:
- Express commenting privileges & photo.
- Exclusive videos & newsletters.
- Discounts to our SMX conferences.
- Access to "How To" & Other Archives.
© 2009 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft logos trademark respective companies and used with permission.
