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Information on Google Settlement
Information on Google settlement
The agreement grows out of Google's efforts to create digital scans of the collections of university and research libraries and books obtained directly by publishers, including millions of out-of-print books still protected by copyright laws.
As a result of the settlement, Google can now make a book available online for a fee, or show up to 20 percent of the text at no charge. Universities and libraries can subscribe, gaining access to the entire collection of scanned texts. Google will get
37 percent of the revenue, authors and publishers will get 63 percent.
Google will pay $125 million to settle two copyright lawsuits. At least $45 million will go to pay authors and publishers whose books were previously scanned by Google. The money will also be used to establish a digital book registry to administer the new system of compensation and to resolve existing claims by authors and publishers.
The settlement reflects both the opportunities and obstacles writers face in a rapidly changing digital world and underlines the need for writers to join and become active in the National Writers Union/UAW 1981, as the best way to protect our rights and our future.
To read the New York Times article on the agreement go to:
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For background on digital book scanning:
We will have more to say over the coming weeks and months after a more detailed analysis of, and some practical experience with, the 320-page agreement.
NWU NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE