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Google To Remove "Inappropriate" Books From Digital Library

Posted by timothy on from the limited-resources dept.

Miracle Jones writes "In an interview with Professor (and former Microsoft employee) James Grimmelmann at the New York Law School, who is both setting up an online clearinghouse to discuss the Google book settlement and drafting an amicus brief to inform the court about the antitrust factors surrounding "orphan books," he revealed that Google will be able to moderate the content of its book scans in the same way that they moderate their YouTube videos, leaving out works that Google deems "inappropriate" from the 7 million library books it has scanned. The Fiction Circus has called for a two-year long rights auction that will ensure that these "inappropriate" titles do not get left behind in the digital era, and that other people who are willing to host and display these books will be able to do so. There is only one week left for authors and publishers to "opt out" of the settlement class and retain their rights or raise objections, and Brewster Kahle's Internet Archive has been stopped from jumping on board Google's settlement as a party defendant and receiving the same legal protections that Google will get. A group of authors, including Philip K. Dick's estate, has tried to delay the settlement for four more months until they get their minds around the issue." In related news, Google is seeking a 60-day extension to the period in which it's attempting to contact authors to inform them of their right to opt-out of the terms of the settlement.

5 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. mental fllexibility by beanyk · · Score: 4, Funny

    A group of authors, including Philip K. Dick's estate, has tried to delay the settlement for four more months until they get their minds around the issue.

    I'd have thought that anyone related to Philip K. Dick would be able to wrap their mind around -anything-.

  2. Re:Burn 'em! by rlp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Question: how do you burn a digital book?

    Depends on whether you are making a CD or DVD ...

    --
    [Insert pithy quote here]
  3. What kind of books are inappropriate? by JTsyo · · Score: 4, Funny

    How to Prepare Children for Witches
    Designing a Meth Lab
    The Demise of America under Corporations

  4. Re:You Would Think... by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 4, Funny

    suppose we'll have to wait and see what gets flagged as "inappropriate."

    Two words: Ann Coulter.

    --
    If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
  5. Re:You Would Think... by maxume · · Score: 5, Funny

    She will be remembered as one of the great humorists of our time.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.