Google makes concessions on digital book deal

Google may lose its control over millions of copyright-protected books that will be added to its digital library.

Google Inc will loosen its control over millions of copyright-protected books that will be added to its digital library if a federal judge approves a revised legal settlement addressing the earlier objections of antitrust regulators.

The concessions,filed yesterday in New York federal court,come two months after the US Justice Department balked at Google’s original agreement with authors and publishers,warning the arrangement could do more harm than good in the emerging market for electronic books.

Google,the Internet’s search leader,is hoping to keep the deal alive with a series of new provisions. Among other things,the modified agreement provides more flexibility to offer discounts on electronic books and promises to make it easier for others to resell access to a digital index of books covered in the settlement.

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Copyright holders also would have to give more explicit permission to sell digital book copies if another version is being sold anywhere else in the world.

The changes are just the latest twist in a class-action lawsuit filed against Google four years ago by groups representing the interests of US authors and publishers. The suit alleged Google’s ambition to make digital copies of all the books in the world trampled their intellectual rights.

Google negotiated a USD 125 million truce nearly 13 months ago only to be attacked by a brigade of critics who protested to US District Judge Denny Chin.

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