Google's Book-Scanning Rights

[Andy]

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2008/10/29/googlebooks.html

In another step toward changing the future of books, Google Inc. has reached an agreement with publishers and authors to scan millions of copyrighted titles and post them on the Internet for users to read and print for a fee.

....

“We expect a vast repository of books —- millions upon millions —- will find a new home and new readers online,” Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, said in a conference call with reporters.
This is interesting. This could be what the people 4 years younger than you will be using to do their research. And might result in more people reading. On the other hand, wouldn't this result in the same sort of piracy that music and already-online books already face?

[Andy]

It said that millions of books were approved by the publishers and authors. But....authors? I have doubts that millions of authors gave their personal approval to this. Most likely the publishers are just exercising their electronic media rights to the books, in a way authors probably didn't see coming.

[Shaun]

You guys realize that Google Books has been around for a long time right? I use it all the time for essays. It's a great way of finding something that you vaguely remember, but didn't mark down in a book. You can search for phrases and such. It's also nice because you can find useful articles online there and in a readable, book-like format.

Just saying. It is a great resource.

[Andy]

Yeah, but this article indicates they're taking it one step farther than what they've always been doing when they've "been around." Good for some, bad for others. Just like Youtube, in some respects.