Sony to Support Google in Settlement with Authors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 31, 2009 - 7:32am.

New York - Sony (NYSE: SNE) intends to file a brief supporting Google's (NASD: GOOG) position in its landmark settlement with authors, over the use of copyrighted works in its massive book-scanning project, Wired.com reported.

The support from Sony, which last week debuted a new e-book reader device and expanded content in its own e-book store, comes in contrast to briefs opposing the deal filed by Yahoo (NASD: YHOO), Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) and Amazon (NASD: AMZN).

While those companies argue that the deal will give Google monopoly control over the digital book publishing and sales market, Sony sees the deal as having a positive impact on the market for e-book readers.

The Justice Department is also currently examining the settlement, a final court hearing on which is currently scheduled for early October.

http://snipurl.com/ri7zo (DMW previous coverage)