Google library a windfall for authors

March 14, 2009

Australian authors and publishers are set to receive a windfall from
Google's project to put millions of books online.

In recent weeks several Australian publishing industry bodies, such
as the Australian Society of Authors, the Copyright Agency Limited
and the Australian Publishers' Association, have been contacting
members to let them know about the settlement Google has reached with
American authors and publishers.

Under the terms of this settlement, copyright holders are to be paid
$US60 ($91.85) a book and $US15 an article or chapter copied from the
more than 7 million items in the Google Library project.

The project, accessible online only in the US, will allow internet
users to download and search any book scanned from the collections of
11 major American university libraries. When the book generates
income, either from direct use or from advertising, Google will pay
the copyright holder 63 per cent of that income on top of the initial
opt-in fee.

Google had tried to ignore the copyright owners but American authors
and publishers started a class action against it. The parties settled
the matter last year. The chief executive of the copyright agency,
Jim Alexander, hailed the agreement as "a substantial victory for
copyright owners".

Authors and publishers have been notified that they may either opt in
or out of the deal by May 5. If they opt out, Google may not use
their book in any way. If they opt in, the copyright holders are
entitled to a share in revenues and fees.

"What this does is put the copyright owner back in control," Mr
Alexander said. He said it was impossible to estimate how many
Australian authors and publishers among the agency's 13,000 members
would benefit. Google has assigned $US125 million to compensate
copyright holders and set up a book rights registry that will
independently oversee how payments are allocated.

A Google spokesman, Rob Shilkin, said Google Australia had been
waiting for the US deal to be bedded down, but once it was, the
company would approach potential Australian partners with a view to
undertaking a similar project.

Malcolm Knox is a director of the Copyright Agency Limited.