Wouldn't it be brilliant if you could have the world's library at your fingertips?
As a writer of historical fiction, I've found that my research has become much easier since Google put scanned books online. The local library doesn't have old tomes on dusty topics sitting on the shelf, and it can be frustrating to need a piece of historical data and not be able to snag it.
What sounds good in theory, unfortunately, doesn't always translate into practice. A judge has decided that Google's grand scheme to become the world's biggest provider of books violates anti-trust laws. By eliminating competition in old books or online access to printed material, Google had an unfair advantage and that is simply against the law.
Back when Google first proposed scanning everything, authors and publishers were concerned about copyright violations. It wasn't just books in the public domain that would be turned into billions of electrons. Interested parties worked out a solution so that copyright holders could get paid, and it looked like everything was a go.
Judge Denny Chin's decision puts paid to Google's plan to control millions of out-of-print books that are often only available as a single copy in an obscure college library.
The problem is, scanning so many books is an expensive proposition and Google is about the only company around with the financial means to undertake the project. Because of its massive size, it could not only scan all the books but control the market for such materials, and the smaller companies like Internet Archive would die.
It would be a severe loss. Internet Archive is more like an online library, with free access. Google, of course, would operate as a money-making venture.
Having already scanned so many books, it's unlikely that Google will fold up its internet tent and go away quietly.
Too much has been invested. The deal making has not yet concluded, and the end is nowhere in sight.
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