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.
A Russian sorceress who hunts fugitive Nazi mages in 1954 South America discovers that she has a far larger destiny than her late master led her to believe. But to fulfill her true potential she must first stop a new foe from destroying the world.
Bram Stoker-winning Weston Ochse is the author of more than 20 books, including Grunt Life, SEAL Team 666, and Age of Blood. He is a military veteran with 30 years of service and has recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.
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