Google Makes Policy Changes in Library Book Project

In an answer to criticisms about its library book project, about which some publishers had major objections, Google has announced that it will not add any copyrighted books to the database until November. Google had previously worked on a kind of “opt-out” method in which it scanned copyrighted material and added it to its library database, allowing users to search it. Copyright owners then had to object and Google would remove it. Google claimed that its policy was permissible under the “fair use” doctrine. Under Google’s proposed new policy, copyright owners can object before Google adds the material.

Google hopes the three month delay in putting the new policy into effect will allow critics time to evaluate its effects. Read more about Google’s project and related issues in the Chronicle of Higher Education here.