Google’s Book Program Hits Legal Snag

Whoever said that information wants to be free never met the U.S. Justice Department. Citing copyright and antitrust issues, the department has urged a New York court to reject an agreement that would let Google publish a treasure trove of books online.  —J.C.

The BBC:

The US Justice Department has urged a New York court to reject a deal that would allow internet company Google to publish millions of books online.

The deal raised copyright and anti-trust issues, the department said, and should be rejected in its current form.

The court is due to rule on the issue early next month.

Under the deal - the product of a legal suit - Google would establish a $125m (£77m) fund to compensate those whose works it published online.

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Google argues that its program would give users unprecedented access to out-of-print books.