The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries have implored that a federal judge to pay special attention to the class-action settlement between Google, authors and publishers in the Google Book Search controversy.

In a court filling the three groups asked Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court to provide continued oversight of the settlement, as a measure to ensure that the pricing Google charges for subscriptions to its digital library are not too high from lack of competition.  Google Book Search is the only tool of its kind so far, a natural monopoly, and the company has set up alliances.

The groups have also voiced their concern to Judge Chin regarding the privacy of readers of the online books.  Google has repeatedly stated that it will place the privacy of users foremost.  Google, the Author’s Guild and the Association of American Publishers maintain their stance that the deal is beneficial for authors, publishers as well as the public.  Google has assured all parties that Google Book Search will not prevent competition.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, your Florida online marketing resource.

Google’s controversial Book Search has been under the microscope from many angles over the past few months.  Recently, the Justice Department has begun an inquiry into the antitrust implications of the settlement between Google and the authors and publishers.

The settlement was announced in October, and it grants Google permission to place library books online, and to profit by selling access to individual works and subscriptions to the collection to libraries and other institutions, and share the revenue among the publishers and authors.

The various groups who are opposed to the settlement include the Internet Archive and Consumer Watchdog.  Lawyers for the Justice Department notified parties to the settlement, including Google, representatives for the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild that antitrust issues were being scrutinized.

Critics of the settlement raise concerns that it gives Google an exclusive license to profit from millions of books, and they claim this is unfair.  In 2005, a class action suit was filed by the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers against Google over its Book Search technology, which scans works found in libraries for users to access online.  Google Book Search generated a stir regarding its use of copyrighted works and accusations of violations thereof.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, your Florida web design and search engine marketing solution.

In recent months, Google has been working diligently to digitize the print world.  Google has scanned millions of works and successfully digitized them for its new Book Search program, allowing for the contents of the books to be searchable and available on the internet.

Like many of Google’s recent business ventures, the Book Search Program has not gone without some controversy.  There have been arguments over ethical as well as legal issues surrounding the program.
Finally, American publishers and authors have reached an agreement with Google in a settlement over Google’s Book Search program.   The settlement will allow Google to sell electronic versions of copyrighted works that have gone out of print.  This agreement is still subject to court approval.

If the agreement meets the courts approval, it marks the largest publishing deal and creates essentially the largest bookstore in the world.  The online bookshop will operate only in the United States initially according to the arrangement.

In an article in the New York Times, Eric Pfanner commented that the Google Book Search program is the biggest technological leap since Gutenberg’s moveable type.  What is happening to the publishing and printing industry happened first to the music industry.

As technology and the search industry advances, new practices will be implemented continuously.  People fear change, and it sometimes creates temporary setbacks that must be addressed and corrected, yet it is all a part of progress in the big picture.

There is the possibility of online book packages much like Netflix, and advertising revenue will be a revenue boost for publishers and authors online as well.  Google’s Book Search program is creating the world’s largest library, and preserving a vast amount of world knowledge into a permanent database that will last forever.

The business of search is expanding into nearly every crevice of the World Wide Web; Deep Blue Interactive is your search marketing solution in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Instead of looking for clients, what if they found you?