National writers’ organizations representing authors of books in a variety of genres believe a secret deal between Google and major book publishers may encourage Google to digitize, use, and sell copyrighted books illegally.
Last September, the US Justice Department urged the courts to reject the Google Book Settlement, citing concerns about class action, copyright, and anti-trust laws. The DOJ’s brief put the Settlement’s approval process on hold, and forced the parties back to the negotiating table–resulting, in November, in the filing of an Amended Settlement. New deadlines were set for authors and for the filing of objections, and the Fairness Hearing (to determine if the Settlement will stand) was postponed to February 18, 2010.
Things look increasingly grim for the Google Books Settlement. The US Department of Justice echoes many of the problems SFWA raised with our objection (and cites our objection),
The 28th was the last day to decide if you wanted to opt out of the Google Book Settlement. If you did nothing, by the terms of the settlement, you are automatically “opted” in. Here are some links we hope might help. SFWA’s official position on the Google Book Settlement Google Book Settlement website The Google […]
The New York Chapter of the Internet Society is recorded video of the NYC Google Book Settlement Workshop. You may watch the two hour and fifteen minute workshop there or here.
The Authors Guild is offering telephone seminars next week to help authors and agents who have questions about the Google Book Settlement. Remember the deadline to make a decision is January 28th.
Writers: Another Google Book Settlement deadline is fast approaching. Per the amended Settlement agreement, January 28, 2010 is the last date you can opt out of the Settlement, or opt back in if you previously opted out and have since changed your mind.
On Jan 20, the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) , the National Writers Union (NWU), Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the Internet Society’s New York Chapter (ISOC-NY) jointly sponsored a workshop to discuss the implications for writers of the proposed Google Books Settlement (GBS). This is an audio of that panel.
Today, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., hosted an online panel discussion regarding the proposed settlement between Google, Inc. and the Authors Guild, Inc., and other class action plantiffs. The text-based panel ran for 90 minutes on the SFWA discussion forums, creating an instant transcript for writers who could not make the opening […]
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., will host an online panel discussion regarding the proposed settlement between Google, Inc., and the Authors Guild, Inc., and other class action plantiffs.
Impostor syndrome. Thinking that your writing sucks. Lost in Submissionland. Overwhelmed by radioactive brain weasels.
The Writer’s Book of Doubt contains practical advice and inspiration for dealing with the problems of the writing life.
Dan Moren is the author of The Aleph Extraction, coming in May 2020 from Angry Robot Books, as well as The Bayern Agenda and The Caledonian Gambit. He’s also a freelance journalist covering technology, and a prolific podcaster.
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