Judge delays Google book settlement hearing
NEW YORK — The federal court overseeing Google Inc.’s settlement over its book-scanning program is giving authors four more months to opt out of the deal and review its potential pitfalls.
Instead of a May 5 deadline, the court ruled Tuesday that authors now have until Sept. 4 to review the agreement.
Under the Google Print Library Project, snippets from millions of out-of-print but copyright-protected books have been indexed online by Michigan and other libraries. Google has called the project, which also scans public-domain works, an invaluable chance for books to receive increased exposure.
But in a class-action suit filed in 2005, the Authors Guild alleged that Google was “engaging in massive copyright infringement.” Within weeks, publishers also sued.
In October 2008, Google and the publishing industry agreed to settle their battle. The settlement calls for Google to pay $125 million while developing online sales opportunities for scanned books that turn up in Google searches. Google would get 37 percent of future revenue and publishers and authors would share the rest.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google would also pay for the millions of copyrighted books already scanned — $60 per complete work to the rights holder — and for the legal fees of the Authors Guild and publishing association.
In November 2008 a judge had set a June 2009 date for a final settlement and hearing to decide if the deal is fair, reasonable and adequate. Tuesday’s extension pushes back the final hearing on the settlement’s approval to Oct. 7.
All other deadlines and key dates in the case remain the same, including the May 5 deadline by which a book must have been scanned in order for an author to be entitled to a cash payment.
But there may be another hurdle to the deal’s approval. The Justice Department is reviewing whether Google’s settlement violates antitrust laws, The Wall Street Journal said late Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The Justice Department recently contacted Google and other parties for details on the settlement, the newspaper said, noting that it is unclear whether the agency would try to block the deal.
Related News
Federal judge sets deadline for amended deal in Google's battle over digital book rightsOctober 7th, 2009 Judge sets deadline for amended Google book dealNEW YORK — A federal judge set a Nov. 9 deadline Wednesday for submission of a revised agreement in the battle over Google Inc.'s effort to get digital rights to millions of out-of-print books.
Judge postpones hearing on fairness of Google books deal settlement so new deal can be struckSeptember 24th, 2009 Fairness hearing postponed for Google books dealNEW YORK — A judge noted the many objections to a $125 million deal giving Google Inc. digital rights to millions of out-of-print books as he agreed Thursday to postpone a fairness hearing so the agreement can be rewritten to comply with copyright and antitrust laws.
Authors and publishers vow to redo Google settlement to resolve antitrust, copyright concernsSeptember 22nd, 2009 New deal sought in dispute over Google book planNEW YORK — A $125 million settlement of a lawsuit that would give Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books will be renegotiated in light of the U.S.
US Justice Department tells judge Google's digital book deal raises significant legal concernsSeptember 18th, 2009 DOJ balks at Google book deal, hopes for changesNEW YORK — The U.S. Justice Department has advised a federal judge that it has significant concerns about a proposed legal settlement that would give Google the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books.
NY judge: 400 voices in Google book dispute means speakers at public hearing may be limitedSeptember 16th, 2009 Judge may limit speakers in Google books hearingNEW YORK — A New York judge says about 400 submissions were filed with his chambers prior to a hearing on a hotly disputed class-action settlement that would give Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books.
Head of copyright office tells Congressional panel that Google book deal is 'at odds' with lawSeptember 10th, 2009 Copyright office leader balks at Google book dealWASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Copyright Office has serious concerns with a class-action settlement that would grant Google the digital rights to millions of books that are no longer being published.
Judge considers giving final approval to TD Ameritrade data theft settlement with 6.2M clientsSeptember 10th, 2009 TD Ameritrade data theft settlement may be okayedOMAHA, Neb. — A hearing is being held to determine whether the settlement online brokerage TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.
Google bows to book settlement critics, willing to share digital copies of out-of-print titlesSeptember 10th, 2009 Google willing to share digital books with rivalsMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google will let other online companies sell its digital copies of out-of-print books if a class-action settlement with U.S.
Google agrees to develop separate privacy policy for digital books to satisfy FTCSeptember 3rd, 2009 Google to draw up new privacy policy for booksWASHINGTON — Google has agreed to draw up a separate privacy policy for its digital library in response to a request from the Federal Trade Commission. The concessions come amid a growing outcry among critics who believe a class-action settlement with U.S.
Judge extends deadline to weigh in on Google's digital book deal until Sept. 8September 3rd, 2009 Judge extends deadline to debate Google book dealNEW YORK — A federal judge has extended the deadline to support or protest a class-action settlement that would empower Google to add millions of out-of-print books to its already vast digital library. The new deadline is 10 a.m.
UBS tax case settlement between US, Swiss due to be presented to Fla. federal judgeAugust 7th, 2009 UBS tax case settlement due before Fla. judgeMIAMI — A federal judge in Miami is due to learn if a settlement has been finalized in the high-stakes attempt by the U.S.
Judge declines to OK BofA's $33M settlement with SEC over Merrill bonuses, sets Monday hearingAugust 6th, 2009 Judge doesn't sign off on BofA, SEC settlementNEW YORK — A judge has balked at signing off on a $33 million proposed settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America Corp. over bonuses.
Judge to get update on settlement talks in UBS tax evasion caseJuly 31st, 2009 Settlement hearing set in UBS tax evasion caseMIAMI — With time running short, a judge in Miami wants an update on settlement talks in the U.S. effort to obtain names of thousands of suspected American tax evaders from Swiss bank UBS AG.
Fla. judge to consider delay for settlement talks in case against UBS over alleged tax evadersJuly 13th, 2009 Fla. judge to consider delay in UBS secrecy caseMIAMI — A federal judge in Florida is considering whether to delay hearings in a case against Swiss banking giant UBS AG to allow more time for settlement talks. The Internal Revenue Service has sued UBS in an effort to identify thousands of suspected American tax evaders.
Google to sell e-books to challenge Amazon.comJune 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Seeking to find common ground with authors, who have complained about copyright violations through search services, Google plans later this year to begin distributing and selling e-books on behalf of its publishing partners. "We've consistently maintained that we're committed to helping our partners find more ways to make their books accessible and available for purchase," Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker said Monday confirming the move first reported by the New York Times.
Loading ...