Google clarifies Print differences in Europe

Google UK has sought to clarify its position with the Google Print project, saying it is taking an entirely different approach in Europe.

The company was hit last month by a class action lawsuit in the US brought by the Authors Guild , which is suing it for violation of its copyright. The legal action demands Google ceases digitising library books without authors’ permission.

Rabin Yaghoubi, strategic partner development director in Europe, told IWR in an exclusive interview that the company believes it is acting completely legally in the US, under the laws of fair use. “But we want to make it clear that in Europe we are only scanning library works that are in the public domain and pre-1900”.

The Google Print project is divided into two strands – a Publisher Partner programme and a Library Partner programme. The latter has involved seven libraries, with just Oxford’s Bodleian Library outside the US. Google is talking to other libraries in Europe to join the programme.

“The library project will be of enormous use to authors and publishers. More than 85% of works are out of print, and it will make this knowledge available to researchers.”

He said the two programmes deliver different results pages for searches in Google Print .

“On Publisher pages there will be links to e-commerce sites, while the Library pages will have links back to the library, which will drive people to these libraries.”

There will be no ads shown on pages from the Library programme.

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!