The Open Book Alliance (OBA) has issued a statement in response to Google's request for an amended Google Books Settlement approval. The OBA and other objectors - including the US Department of Justice, authors, publishers, academics, libraries and privacy advocates from around the world - have collectively made the case for rejection of the amended settlement agreement proposed by Google, the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild.
Despite such opposition, Google has offered only cosmetic changes to its amended settlement, the OBA has stated. The arguments it now offers to defend the amended settlement are the same arguments that have been rejected by the Department of Justice – twice. Contrary to what Google's attorneys say, the amended settlement will still offer the company exclusive access to books it has illegally scanned to the detriment of consumers, authors and competition, says the OBA statement.
Further, the OBA says, Google's request also fails to answer concerns from consumer advocacy groups like the Institute for Information Law & Policy. Such groups reportedly fear that the amended settlement, if approved, would, ‘set a dangerous precedent for future cases and undermine democratic political processes.’
Members of the OBA include Amazon.com, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, Internet Archive, Microsoft, National Writers Union, New York Library Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Small Press Distribution, Special Libraries Association and Yahoo!.
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