Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google Books Wins Again (documentcloud.org)

Posted by Soulskill on from the a-decade-later dept.

cpt kangarooski writes: After Google won a lawsuit brought by the Authors Guild alleging that Google's project to scan and provide a searchable index of books was copyright infringement, Google has now won the inevitable appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The court found that Google is engaging in fair use, and reminds all that "[t]he ultimate goal of copyright is to expand public knowledge and understanding." The ruling (PDF) adds, "while authors are undoubtedly important intended beneficiaries of copyright, the ultimate, primary intended beneficiary is the public."

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. I got a laugh by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 3, Insightful

    from the humorous comment about how "[t]he ultimate goal of copyright is to expand public knowledge and understanding". They are such kidders.

    --
    A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    1. Re:I got a laugh by cjb658 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's what it was originally intended to do, but now we extend copyrights well beyond the author's death and allow companies to claim copyright on things like the Happy Birthday song. It's become a joke.

    2. Re:I got a laugh by rahvin112 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Happy birthday was just found (by a court) the other day to be in the public domain. Just saying.

  2. Summary Makes It Sound Like a Reasonable Ruling by joelsherrill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The devil must be in the details.

  3. Wow.. right! by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "[t]he ultimate goal of copyright is to expand public knowledge and understanding."

    Not in Soviet, I mean Corporate America. In Corporate America, copyright own you!

    Yes, this is what the true goal of copyright is, and kudos for actually understanding the real purpose. Millions of teachers in millions of college classrooms today will be teaching that copyright is for making money and nothing more.

  4. Cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now do something about that "Life plus 70 years" copyright term.