Google Book Search legal issues spread to Europe
The European Union is to hold a hearing into Google’s attempts to take control of copyrighted books where the publisher can’t be traced. It comes as the case is also attracting the attention of the House of Representatives.
The various hearings and investigations involve a Google settlement with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers which had accused it of illegally scanning and publishing electronic copies of copyrighted books. As part of a $125 million settlement, the two groups gave Google the electronic rights to so-called orphan books: those which are still in copyright but are out of print, and where the rights holders are either unknown or untraceable.
The settlement is yet to receive court approval, a process that’s being delayed by a Department of Justice investigation. The DoJ is looking at complaints that in being the only electronic publisher to these books, Google has an unfair market position.
Now the European Union is to take a look at the issue. It’s holding a meeting on Sept. 7 and is inviting copyright holders to attend. The EU says that copyright holders can’t be traced for more than 90 percent of books in national libraries across the continent.
Google says it will also attend the meeting and stresses that it is a “fact-finding exercise” rather than a full-blown investigation.
Back in the U.S., politicians are now getting in on the act. The House Judiciary Committee is reportedly planning to hold a hearing into the issue. The Wall Street Journal says the committee began sending out feelers to potential witnesses several months ago but has now informally indicated a meeting will take place on July 30.
Google has confirmed it’s had talks with the committee about a possible hearing. The committee itself has not publicly confirmed a hearing will take place, though a spokesman for one member noted that the committee making inquiries about a topic does not necessarily lead to a hearing.
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