US court postpones Google Books settlement - February 22, 2010
A US district court has once again delayed the ruling on Internet search engine firm Google’s controversial move to digitise millions of out-of-copy books. This is expected to put on hold Google’s plans to become the world’s largest online library. Judge Denny Chin told a packed… Read More
LCA publishes issue brief on streaming of films for educational purposes - February 22, 2010
The Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) has released an issue brief that reviews the legal status of streaming entire films to students located outside of physical classrooms. This follows the recent news of a disagreement between the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a media equipment… Read More
Library groups, EFF support of first sale doctrine in US legal battle - February 17, 2010
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a coalition of public interest and consumer groups have urged a US federal appeals court to preserve consumers' rights and the first sale doctrine in a battle over an Internet auction of used computer software. The EFF was joined by the Read More
Open Book Alliance flays amended Google Books settlement - February 15, 2010
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… Read More
Amended Google settlement shows improvements but issues remain, says US DoJ - February 5, 2010
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has submitted its views on the proposed amended settlement between the Authors Guild and Google, Inc. It has advised the District Court for the Southern District of New York that despite substantial progress reflected in the proposed agreement, class certification,… Read More
Open Book Alliance formally opposes Google books settlement - January 29, 2010
The Open Book Alliance (OBA) has formally filed Amicus Curiae in opposition to the proposed settlement between the Authors Guild, Inc., Association of American Publishers, Inc. and Google, Inc. The OBA filing states that the torrent of criticism to the settlement may have produced amendments to… Read More
French publishers’ association making fresh objections to Google settlement - January 22, 2010
The French Publishers Association (Syndicat National de l'Edition, SNE), has endorsed about 10 pages of objections to the second draft of a settlement between Google and American publishers and authors. The objections, to be sent to Judge Denny Chin before January 28, are reportedly different from… Read More
Google may exit Chinese operations over attacks and govt. curbs - January 14, 2010
Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, has threatened to pull out operations in China citing massive cyber attacks on its computers and China’s efforts to ‘limit free speech on the web.’ The move, if pursued, would be a highly odd reprimand of China by one… Read More
Google apologises to Chinese authors over scanning of books - January 11, 2010
Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, has reportedly apologised to Chinese authors for scanning thousands of their books without obtaining permission from them. The books were included in the controversial Google Books project. A statement by Erik Hartmann, the Asia-Pacific head of Google Books, was… Read More
Journal editor criticised for financial ties with medical devices maker - January 4, 2010
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis has found that Thomas Zdeblick, editor-in-chief of the medical journal Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques, failed to disclose ties to spinal- and heart-device maker Medtronic. The editor reportedly received millions in royalties for promoting Medtronic spinal products through the journal. Zdeblick, a University of… Read More
