Category Archives: News

Google Book Scan Lawsuit Decision

I have written before about the Author’s Guild copyright infringement lawsuit against Google for its unauthorized digitizing of copyrighted works.  Now, after eight years of litigation, we have a decision. Briefly, in 2005 the Author’s Guild and other plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Google for its “Book Search,” alleging that Google violated the … Continue reading Google Book Scan Lawsuit Decision

E-Book Price Fixing

Q. What’s the status of the e-book price fixing lawsuit against Apple and other publishers? A.  Last April, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five major publishers: Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin Group and Macmillan – collectively, five of the “big six” U.S. publishers. The government alleged that the publishers … Continue reading E-Book Price Fixing

Author’s Guild Lawsuit

The Author’s Guild has become quite litigious in recent years.  The Guild’s lawsuit against Google for its Google Books project continues, and will go to trial sometime next year.  Meanwhile, the Guild, along with Australian and Canadian authors’ organizations and eight individual authors, has filed another high-profile lawsuit, this time against the HathiTrust, a partnership … Continue reading Author’s Guild Lawsuit

Update On The Google Book Search Lawsuit

In a version of Dickens’ Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce, we now are approaching the seventh year of the copyright infringement lawsuit againstGoogle because of its unauthorized digitizing of copyrighted works.  (I addressed this topic in a previous post.) Briefly, in 2005 the Author’s Guild and other plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Google for its … Continue reading Update On The Google Book Search Lawsuit

Update On The Google Book Search Lawsuit Settlement

Background:  Four years ago, the Author’s Guild and other plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Google for its “Book Search,” alleging that Google violates the copyrights of authors and publishers in books by digitizing (scanning) them, creating an electronic database of books, and displaying short excerpts without the copyright owners’ permission.  Google defended its … Continue reading Update On The Google Book Search Lawsuit Settlement

Update On Copyright Issues

Two recent federal circuit court decisions have potentially turned copyright co-ownership upside down, affecting any writer who collaborates. First, in the 2007 case of Davis v. Blige, the Second Circuit undermined fundamental co-ownership of copyright principles.  Although the case involved songwriting, the effects could extend to any industry – including publishing — where there are … Continue reading Update On Copyright Issues