Google in Talks with Justice Dept. on Book Settlement Terms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 17, 2009 - 10:13am.

Washington - Google (NASD: GOOG) is in talks with the U.S. Justice Department and the plaintiffs in the settlement governing its plans to create a digital book index, on potential changes to the settlement that could ease the Justice Department's concerns about the deal, Bloomberg reported, citing two anonymous sources. The judge overseeing the settlement yesterday gave Google until Oct. 2 to respond to the 400-odd briefs submitted in opposition to the settlement deal.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin will then hold a hearing on Oct. 7 to discuss the proposed $125 million settlement between Google and authors and publishers, which would empower the company to create an enormous digital index of books.

Meanwhile, Google said it signed a deal with On Demand Books, to provide over 2 million public-domain book titles to the print-on-demand service.

The titles will become available for printing in paperback edition at booksellers that have one of the company's Espresso Book Machine printers.

The public domain titles are expected sell for around $8 each, which would provide retail bookstore partners with a $3 profit, and Google and On Demand Books with $1 each per transaction, according to Wired.com.

Google has said it will donate its profits from the partnership to charity.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/ry40a (Bloomberg)

http://snipurl.com/ry49h (Wired.com)

http://snipurl.com/ry4bf (PDF of On Demand Books release)

http://www.ondemandbooks.com