Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Recent Google Book Settlement News

Two bits of news from the giant Google Books settlement:

- GalleyCat reports that the Authors Guild has "disclosed the individual pay-outs that writers would receive from Google for scanning 7 million books: they will earn between $60 and $300 for each book scanned by the company." The email from the Authors Guild to its members was posted by Gawker (here).

- More importantly, Library Journal reports that the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) will file an amicus brief with the court charged with handling the settlement. The brief will be written by Jonathan Band, whose "Guide to the Perplexed" is required reading for anyone interested in all this crazy business. The brief will "amplify for the court concerns library leaders voiced at recent meeting in Washington, D.C.", according to the report. ARL associate executive director Prue Adler said the brief "will not object to or urge rejection of the settlement, but would file a thoughtful brief that urges the court to address library concerns."