May 04, 2009

Google's monumental book-scanning project, begun in 2004, is a preservationist's dream. Anybody hooked up to the World Wide Web can now access many obscure and out-of-print books with a click of the mouse.

That's also how Google sees it. What is the point, project originators ask, of assembling the world's knowledge through search engines if the collective wisdom of books is left out?

The trouble is, a $125 million deal Google struck last fall with many publishers and authors is seen by other groups as improperly subsuming valid copyrights for some older books. Critics also argue that the deal gives Google a lock on digital book data that it can use later to limit access.

A federal judge is weighing these issues, and federal regulators reportedly are looking into the antitrust implications. A good solution will balance the need for full and free access to books with the legal protections their copyrights deserve.








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