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Google Books project to remove European titles (article)

CarolCarol
edited September 2009 in - Reading
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6151136/Google-Books-project-to-remove-European-titles.html

Comments

  • KJKJ
    Some reasonably good news at last.
  • CarolCarol
    Well it is a compromise of a sort.
  • Jay MandalJay Mandal
    "We must ask how best to deliver the wealth of European and world literature – and other cultural works – to citizens."

    Any comments, anyone?
  • KJKJ
    I suggest buying and reading the books, or am I being a little naive here?
    I'm not a supporter of the grab, steal or borrow attitude that seems to be rife at the moment.
  • CarolCarol
    I've got no problem if the work is out of copyright.
    But I do agree with KJ.
    I would have no problem with say the first chapter (and index if applicable) being free to view- but then you have to buy (whatever version you want). After all we've all at some time had trouble finding a copy of a book that is old and out of print.
    I like the 'Look Inside' option some books on Amazon have, and it will often mean I go on to purchase that book.

    The expensive part of this delivering 'the wealth of European and world literature' is translation- okay if it was done in your language, but a bit of an issue if you don't speak the language the book was issued in.
  • *SA**SA*
    I'm confused by this whole thing. Sorry if I'm about to sound like a big thicko...
    Fair enough if the work is out of copyright, but if the EU allowed this google books thing, would that mean that, if I got published, google could scan my book onto their search engine and anyone could just see it on the internet without buying it? Or if I was lucky enough to get a deal with a US publisher, my book would end up on the internet straight away?

    *SA*
  • CarolCarol
    edited September 2009
    SA this may help.

    http://www.googlebooksettlement.com/

    If you look in the FAQ section you will find an answer to your query.
  • *SA**SA*
    Thanks, Carol, that helped a bit, although I still feel like a bit of an idiot. I always considered myself a relativly intelligent person, but I'm still not 100% on what all of this means. I think I'll look into it a bit more, see if I can find a dummies' guide or something...

    *SA*
  • CarolCarol
    It is quite complex.
    Somewhere on here there might be the original item.
    Around about April/May there was the notice in WN which notified writers who might have an interest.
    If I find it, I'll drag it out.
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