Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and five publisher plaintiffs have reportedly informed a US judge that they are close to settling a lawsuit over the former’s controversial book-scanning project. Negotiations between Google and the Authors Guild, which filed suit against Google for copyright infringement with the AAP six years ago, do not appear to be making as much headway, however.
At a recently held status conference, Judge Denny Chin adopted a proposed pre-trial schedule that, if followed, would have the case ready for trial by July 2012. AAP attorney Bruce Keller told Chin that the publishers had agreed to the proposed trial schedule, but that substantial progress had been made between publishers and Google, and that he hoped the trial schedule would become ‘moot.’
Google attorney Daralynn Durie confirmed that expectation later in the hearing. Durie told Chin that progress was being made and noted that the business principals, ‘not the lawyers’, were in discussion. Authors Guild attorney Michael Boni also informed the court that talks were ongoing, and that the authors were hopeful of a settlement.
The judge adopted the proposed trial schedule and issued a single order. Under the schedule, the plaintiffs’ first brief, for class certification, would be due on December 12. Google’s rebuttal would follow on January 20. Discovery would aim to be completed by the end of March, 2012, and motions for summary judgment, assuming there would motions from all parties, would be in by mid-July 2012.
