Stung by a publishing industry backlash, Google Inc. has halted its efforts to scan copyrighted books from some of the nation’s largest university libraries so the material can be indexed in its leading Internet search engine. [The suspension is effective until November.]
Google wants publishers to notify the company which copyrighted books they don’t want scanned, effectively requiring the industry to opt out of the program instead of opting in.
That approach rankled the Association of American Publishers.
”Google’s announcement does nothing to relieve the publishing industry’s concerns,” Patricia Schroeder, the trade group’s president, said in a statement Friday. ”Google’s procedure shifts the responsibility for preventing infringement to the copyright owner rather than the user, turning every principle of copyright law on its ear.”
Thanks to UW Law Library colleague, Howard Nash, for the tip.