Authors Ask for Google Book Settlement Hearing Delay

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 23, 2009 - 8:28am.

New York - The Authors Guild has petitioned the federal court handling its settlement with Google (NASD: GOOG) over the company's ambitious book-scanning project to postpone a hearing on the settlement scheduled for Oct. 7, saying the two parties wish to work with the U.S. Department of Justice to overcome its concerns with the deal. On Friday, the Justice Dept. lodged its official opposition to the deal in its current form, and made suggestions for specific changes that could help bring approval of the settlement.

"It is because the parties wish to work with the DOJ to the fullest extent possible that they have engaged, and plan to continue to engage, in negotiations in an effort to address and resolve the concerns expressed in the [Justice Dept. filing]," the plaintiffs wrote to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

"The parties are committed to rapidly advancing the discussions with the DOJ. Nevertheless, it is clear that the complex issues raised preclude submission of an amended settlement agreement by October 7."

The Open Book Alliance, a group opposed to the settlement that includes Google rivals Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo, in addition to librarians, authors and publishers, applauded the move.

"Clearly, Google and its partners now agree that the settlement is dead," the group said in a statement.

"And any hope for revival of a settlement will require fundamental reforms. This is a huge victory for all those voices seeking to serve the public interest, protect innovation and promote competition."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/s2npv (AFP)

http://www.googlebooksettlement.com/

http://www.openbookalliance.org