Internet's search colossus Google has decided to temporarily shelve its ambitious Google Print for Libraries project after many publishers voiced concerns that it was infringing upon their copyrights. The project was being undertaken with five libraries including those at Stanford University and Harvard University.
Google Library Product Manager Adam Smith said that the project, which was launched in December, has now been put off till November latest. Smith explained Google's ideas behind the project in a Web log posted on the company's site on Thursday. He admitted that the publishing community had not understood some of the proposals, "As with many ambitious ideas, Google Print has sparked a healthy amount of discussion.
And we've been listening," Smith declared on the blog. Google said that it would give publishers until November to decide if they wanted to participate in the project or not. Google says that the project, which aims to index all the books, that are available in libraries "all while carefully respecting authors' and publishers' copyrights. Our ultimate goal is to work with publishers and libraries to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages that helps users discover new books and publishers find new readers." However, publishers have taken a serious view of this project and say that Google is indulging in blatant violation of their copyrights.
The Association of American Publishers (AAP), which represents the U.S publishing industry was not all that happy with Google's temporary postponement, Patricia Schroeder, AAP's President and CEO categorically stated, "Google's announcement does nothing to relieve the publishing industry's concerns. Google's procedure shifts the responsibility for preventing infringement to the copyright owner rather than the user, turning every principle of copyright law on its ear."
She added that many publishers who are a part of the AAP had joined hands with Google in the hope that "Google and publishers could have produced a system that would work for everyone, and regret that Google has decided not to work with us on our alternative proposal," Mrs. Schroeder ruefully pointed out.
Smith admitted that Google's project was not being viewed favorably, but said that the company would follow a policy of trying to convince people rather than asking them to meet deadlines, "We're going to continue talking about Google Print with our partners and the publishing industry. These discussions have been crucial in helping to build a program that benefits the industry and, most important, the millions of users who'll be able to discover new books," he said.
