Google wars

But then there’s the other Google, the secretive, powerful, profitable corporation. Earlier in the day, that Google convened a closed meeting of its publisher advisory committee comprising some 15 members, including top chief executives and university press directors. They had a lot to talk about, like the latest proposal--for one-week, online book rentals at 10% of list price.
It all took place on the day Google Print became Google Book Search--and that, less than a fortnight after scanning resumed and public domain titles became available.
The sold-out audience heard three lawyers arguing, each in his own particular vocabulary. The non-lawyer among them, Taylor of the Author’s Guild, used the vocabulary of "appropriation without compensation" and "control". The AAP’s Adler spoke of compensation and control, but added that "recognition" of the copyright holder’s rights is even more paramount.
Google’s Drummond, on the other hand, used words like "discover", "fair use" and also tweaked the famous internet rallying cry, saying, "information does not want to be free, but wants to be found". Taylor countered by saying: "Why not scan the card catalogues of the libraries rather than their contents?"
Lessig and Drummond returned the lob, emphasising innovation, innovation, innovation. In Lessig’s words, "there won’t be an index if you require that Google ask permission. We don’t have till the 22nd century to do it."
But Adler again countered: "We have much more time to do it than by Google’s next quarterly filing." Authors and publishers "shouldn’t be penalised for being slow."
When question time came, Adler reminded Drummond that since UK copyright law does not entail "fair use", Google has acknowledged it will need to deal differently there. One beleaguered author spoke of feeling "like a chipmunk watching a clash of rhinos . . . When I hear Google’s assurances I don’t trust you. In the real world, writers’ works are being stolen now".
The evening ended without any kind of consensus. Nevertheless, if Ariel Sharon can talk about making peace with the Palestinians, maybe there’s hope for Google and America’s authors and publishers yet.