11th-Hour Filings to Oppose Google’s Book Settlement

compiled by Aggie Villanueva

See also Your Book Has Already Been Stolen by Google

There’s not much to add to the following in-depth coverage about this. I’ve simply posted links to the latest news on the struggle for author’s right. Please click on all the links to get the full details from these various recent posts.

11th-Hour Filings Oppose Google’s Book Settlement
New York Times
By MIGUEL HELFT
Published: September 8, 2009

11th-Hour Filings Oppose Google’s Book Settlement says the New York Times…

The $125 million proposed settlement among Google, the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers, which is awaiting review by Judge Denny Chin of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, has prompted dozens of opposing filings from individuals, rival companies like Amazon and Microsoft, advocacy organizations, groups representing authors and publishers and even some foreign governments….For details see

Google Books Settlement: Is The Open Book Alliance Trying To Get Something For Nothing?
SearchEngineLand
Sep 9, 2009 at 5:30pm ET by Greg Sterling

The legal briefs were flying fast and furiously as all the interest groups, supporters and competitors rushed to meet a deadline for third parties to weigh in on the Google Book Search settlement. The NY Times quotes legal scholars who argue that the “quality” and volume of the filings in the case will make it challenging for the judge to quickly resolve the matter. In some respects this is a “novel” situation in which a great deal is at stake for the involved parties and book publishing more broadly.

A settlement hearing is scheduled for October 7. Scores of companies, interest groups and even governments line up on each side.… For details see

Amazon Accuses Someone Else of Monopolizing Bookselling
The Authors Guild
September 2, 2009.

Amazon made it official today, filing a brief in the Google case claiming that someone else might gain a monopoly in bookselling.  It seems we’re compelled to state the obvious: Amazon’s hypocrisy is breathtaking…. For details see

Digital Books Hearing Witnesses Unveiled
Congress Daily: National Journal: Tech Daily Dose
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers on Wednesday unveiled his witness list for a Thursday hearing on competition and commerce in the digital book industry. The hearing comes on the heels of considerable controversy over Google’s plan to digitize mass quantities of libraries’ stacks. A New York federal court has scheduled a fairness hearing for Oct. 7 on the $125 million settlement Google reached in a feud with authors and publishers. Amazon.com, Microsoft, Yahoo and others have protested Google’s project.

Witnesses include:

• Google Chief Legal Officer David Drummond
• National Federation of the Blind President Marc Maurer
• Authors Guild Executive Director Paul Aiken
• University of Chicago law professor Randal Picker
• Amazon Vice President Paul Misener
• Consumer Watchdog John Simpson
• Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters
• Center for American Progress Senior Fellow David Balto

For details see

See also Your Book Has Already Been Stolen by Google

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