By David Utter
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-09-21
As Google Print gets another legal challenge, the search engine responded via the company blog to explain its position.
The Authors Guild has filed a lawsuit against Google to try and stop Google Print. The Google Print initiative seeks to scan books into the Google database, and make snippets of text available to searchers when a query matches content in a book or books.
Google's Susan Wojcicki, VP Product Management, contends via the Google blog that Google Print will benefit authors, not harm them:
"...many of Google Print's chief beneficiaries will be authors whose backlist, out of print and lightly marketed new titles will be suggested to countless readers who wouldn't have found them otherwise."
Searches that return results from Google Print will display a snippet of text from a book, or more if a copyright holder gives permission, bibliographic information, and ads linked to online booksellers and libraries.
Ms. Wojcicki claims Google Print does not violate copyright law, and its practices comply with generally accepted "fair use" doctrines. Google Print will be one big electronic card catalog: "This ability to introduce millions of users to millions of titles can only expand the market for authors' books, which is precisely what copyright law is intended to foster," she posted.
