Audio-visual Resources Expand Understanding of Google Book Search Settlement

Much has been written about the Google Book Search Settlement. For those who want a better understanding of the Settlement but are a bit print-weary, audio-visual resources have become available in recent weeks that can clarify and expand that understanding.

For a general overview of Google Books and the Settlement on YouTube click here .

For a better understanding of the role of the Settlement in leveling the educational playing field for minority students and students with disabilities click here

For a discussion of what the Settlement means for publishers click here. There's information on a webinar below too.

I have to note that I do get irritated at those that trumpet "all content should be free." Hey, I'm sure we'd all like everything to be free! But if someone started announcing that all lawyers should work for free, or all milk should be free, we'd see the absurdity of that statement! Why can't they acknowledge the same value for Intellectual Property (IP) or the written material many sweat blood to create.

Not only do some feel their work has actual value, but they need to make a living at their work--and writing is work indeed. They also believe the creator or copyright holder ought to have some control over the material.

If you haven't guessed by now, I want this settlement to go through in order to ensure authors and publishers are offered some protection and to help ensure copyright is respected. As I said in a previous post, while the settlement is not perfect, it's an important first step. It literally took years, and involved a group of very smart, committed representatives for authors, publishers and a global search engine. I don't see anyone raising their hand to do better.

Without the settlement, we remain in a lawless frontier, and the implications would be devastating for copyright in the digital arena. There are a lot of people who can benefit from a state of anarchy, but it's time for content creators and those that value content to draw a line in the sand.

As noted previously, if you'd like to learn more about the settlement, you can also check out the information on the Author's Guild and the Association of American Publisher's websites.

But there's also a recent Webinar hosted by Publisher's Weekly you can access. Go to www.PublishersWeekly.com, click on "Tools" to the far right of the top navibar, then Webcasts and register for the webcast:
Google Library Project Settlement: What It Means for Publishers (or just click on the link!).

You will be able to access the webcast archive for one year following the initial webcast.

Description of the Webinar:

In a webinar first, the leaders involved with the crafting of the Google Library Project Settlement will share with the publishing industry the benefits of the agreement for publishers and authors. If approved by the Court in October, the agreement will create one of the most far-reaching intellectual, cultural, and commercial platforms for access to digital books for the reading public, while granting publishers unprecedented opportunities and protections. Presented in collaboration with Google, The Association of American Publishers, and Publishers Weekly, the web session is a must-attend event.

PANELISTS
Richard Sarnoff, Co-Chair, Bertelsmann, Inc., AAP Board of Directors
John Sargent, Chief Executive Officer, Macmillan, AAP Board of Directors
Jan Constantine, General Counsel, Author's Guild
James Gleick, Author
Michael Healy, Executive Director Designate, Book Rights Registry

MODERATOR
Jim Milliot, News Director, Publishers Weekly

Thanks for listening! I think it's important.