Google opened the doors of its online library yesterday, allowing
users to search its collection of digitised public domain works.
But Google Print is only offering access to public domain works for
now, amid controversy over plans to include copyrighted works.
"Today we welcome the world to our library," said Mary Sue
Coleman, President of the University of Michigan, which is
participating in the scheme. "Anyone with an internet connection
can search the text of and read the compelling narratives,
historical accounts and classic works offered today, and in doing
so access a world of ideas, knowledge and discovery."
Announced late last year, the Google Print Library Project
involves the scanning and digitisation of millions of published
books from the collections of three major academic libraries –
Stanford University, Harvard University and the University of
Michigan – from which Google plans to create an online, searchable
database.
Oxford University and the New York Public Library are also
participating in the Library Project, but are only making available
works in the public domain.
A user searching Google Print is presented with links on the
results pages when there are books relevant to his query. Clicking
on a title will deliver a page from which the user can either
browse the full text of the work – if copyright has expired – or
brief excerpts and/or bibliographic data where the work is still
protected by copyright. Links to sellers are also provided.
Users can search the Google Print index directly, but it is also
integrated into the usual Google search results pages.
According to Google, the programme will increase the viability
of in and out of print books and generate book sales. Users will be
able to search across library collections, including out of print
books and titles that weren't previously available anywhere but on
a library shelf.
But the scheme has not been universally welcomed. Authors and
publishers have criticised the plan, expressing concern about how
Google would protect the rights of authors and publishers whose
books it had scanned.
Under pressure, Google announced in May that it was temporarily
halting the scanning of in-copyright works, so that copyright
holders could let the firm know if their works should not be
scanned.
It was due to begin scanning copyrighted works again in
1st November, but has still to restart the process,
according to CNET News.
In the meantime, Google has been hit with two lawsuits over the
project. The Association of American Publishers and the Authors
Guild separately accuse the search giant of infringing copyright by
digitally copying and distributing their members' works without the
permission of copyright owners.
Google denies any copyright infringement. For books not in the
public domain, the company says it only shows small snippets of the
work
[http://print.google.com/googleprint/screenshots.html#excerpt],
unless the publisher or copyright holder has given Google
permission to show more.
Copying a small snippet of a work may be acceptable in copyright
law; but Google appears to be copying much more than that. An
entire book is being scanned without permission – albeit Google
only displays a small snippet of the text.
