Congressional Authors Targeted
Three groups that represent writers are calling on the more than 60 members of Congress who have written books to oppose a settlement between Google and the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers as part of Google's effort to digitize millions of books. In a letter Wednesday to lawmaker authors such as Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Reps. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, the three writers' groups argued that the revised settlement could lock millions of authors into the complex deal.
Last fall, the Justice Department raised concerns about the settlement, which only covers out-of-print books. In response, Google announced a revised settlement in November aimed at addressing some of the concerns by limiting the agreement's international scope, while also preserving the "core benefits of the original agreement: opening access to millions of books while providing rights holders with ways to sell and control their work online."
The revised settlement, however, did little to quell criticism about Google's digital books initiative. "As fellow authors, you know the freedom to negotiate your own book contract is basic and precious. We hope you will join us in speaking in opposition to the amended settlement. The Department of Justice detailed fundamental flaws to the court in September," the writers' groups wrote. "A preponderance of those flaws remain. We urge you, as an author and member of Congress, to contact the DOJ and implore them to continue their close scrutiny of this settlement."
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Intellectual Property
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