Protection from Google: German-speaking authors and publishers are gearing up
German-speaking authors and publishers want to prevent the loss of book rights to the internet search engine Google. So far, Google has scanned around seven million books from US libraries, including German-language books. The Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV) has now also assured authors and publishers of its support.
German-speaking authors and publishers want to prevent the loss of book rights to the internet search engine Google. So far, Google has scanned around seven million books from US libraries, including German-language books.
"We want to ensure that no German author or publisher loses rights," announced Robert Staats, Managing Director of Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort, in Berlin on Monday. In addition to VG Wort, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association and the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV) also want to help German-language authors and publishers to obtain their rights.
Last fall, the American Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers settled their two-year copyright dispute with Google with a payment of 125 million dollars. This paved the way for comprehensive online searches, including in protected books and texts. In return, Google will give authors and publishers a share of the advertising revenue generated from book searches. At the time, the search engine giant called on publishers and authors from Germany to register their rights in the USA.
"We want to ensure that no German author or publisher loses rights," announced Robert Staats, Managing Director of Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort, in Berlin on Monday. In addition to VG Wort, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association and the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV) also want to help German-language authors and publishers to obtain their rights.
Last fall, the American Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers settled their two-year copyright dispute with Google with a payment of 125 million dollars. This paved the way for comprehensive online searches, including in protected books and texts. In return, Google will give authors and publishers a share of the advertising revenue generated from book searches. At the time, the search engine giant called on publishers and authors from Germany to register their rights in the USA.
