The European Commission has reportedly stated that it does not object to Google digitising 160,000 books in the archives of the National Library of the Netherlands if these will be made available publicly. The Dutch library, Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB), recently announced an agreement with Internet search services provider Google to digitise more than 160,000 out-of-copyright (public domain) books from the library's collection.
According to EU spokesman Jonathan Todd, the EU executive welcomed the digitisation of materials from public libraries provided 'they are made available to European citizens' and meet EU copyright and competition laws.
The out-of-copyright works from the 18th and 19th centuries will be fully searchable and accessible for free via Google Books and various KB websites. These books will also be accessible via the EU's Europeana portal in the near future.
Google has similar deals with Austria's National Library as well as Italy's cultural heritage ministry. Until now, the company has made digital copies of more than 12 million books. However, all of these books are not publicly available because of a dispute over out-of-print books still protected by copyrights.
Search for more Google information
Get customisable STM news alerts in your Mobile. Visit http://www.scopeknowledge.com/scoope.jar via your mobile browser to download the SCOOPE application
More News in this Theme
