Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > News

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 02-11-2009, 04:48 PM   #1
yagiz
http://is.gd/4flJX
yagiz has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.yagiz has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.yagiz has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.yagiz has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.yagiz has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.
 
Posts: 134
Karma: 422
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone 3G
Google Book Settlement Site Is Up; Paying Authors $60 Per Scanned Book

News from TechCrunch

Quote:
Last October, Google signed a $125 million settlement with the Author’s Guild to pay authors for copyrighted works it has scanned and made available on the Web through its Google Book Search project. More than 7 million books have been scanned by Google so far, a large portion of them out of print. Today, the Google Book Settlement site went up, which allows authors and other copyright holders of out-of-print books the ability to submit claims to participate in the settlement.

What do they get? Authors, publishers, and other copyright holders will get a one-time payment of $60 per scanned book (or $5 to $15 for partial works). In return, Google will be able to index the books and display snippets in search results, as well as up to 20% of each book in preview mode. Google will also be able to show ads on these pages and make available for sale digital versions of each book. Authors and copyright holders will receive 63 percent of all advertising and e-commerce revenues associated with their works. With Google Book Search now available on mobile phones, downloaded e-books could become an interesting digital side-business for Google. (But please Google, convert the scanned text into something more easily legible on the screen).

Remember, this settlement is only for the millions of out-of-print books that are making zero revenues for authors and publishers today. So it is not a bad deal all around. Copyright holders have until January 5, 2010 to make a claim.
yagiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2009, 02:29 PM   #2
Elsi
Wizard
Elsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of lightElsi is a glorious beacon of light
 
Elsi's Avatar
 
Posts: 2,366
Karma: 12000
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C
I missed this when you posted it, but this is definitely good news.
Elsi is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 04-25-2009, 12:53 AM   #3
Elfwreck
Grand Sorcerer
Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Elfwreck's Avatar
 
Posts: 5,185
Karma: 25133758
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA
Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)
Ashley Grayson literary agency blog commentary on the settlement:
It is a major manipulation of the marketplace that effectively diminishes your ability to earn money from your works in significant new markets. In time, these new markets may become the only markets, so this is serious.
....
It establishes a single electronic rights clearing house, the Book Rights Registry (BRR), with an entitlement to a percentage of the electronic income of all works. This amounts to a mandated electronics rights agency that every author is required to pay, but no author can question.
....
Publishing consultants are already promising a gold rush of new business based on “content” with no recognition of “authors” in the business model.
It also points out that among the representative authors, not a single novelist was included. And "deadline for an action you might want to take is May 5, 2009."

Hmmmm.

I haven't got any conclusions. It does look like "hey, let's legislate new ways of dealing with tech!" done by people who don't understand the tech or the long-term implications.

While I think some aspects of copyright as it stands are ridiculous, I don't think the solutions involve *more* gov't-appointed agencies taking control of content.
Elfwreck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2009, 01:23 AM   #4
phenomshel
ZCD BombShel
phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
phenomshel's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,793
Karma: 8293322
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA)
Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis
So we have to wait until after January 2010 for them to give the publisher's time to submit claims or say they don't want their books included for Google to be able to make anything available? Could be worse I suppose - I've known of settlements to drag on for decades.
But I'm so looking forward to Google being able to make available out of print but still in copyright works that the publishers have no interest in making available as ebooks through other channels.
phenomshel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2009, 01:29 AM   #5
MaggieScratch
Has got to the black veil
MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
MaggieScratch's Avatar
 
Posts: 542
Karma: 2144168
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2
I opted out. I was fine with Google having a partial scan of my book available--I think it could drive sales--but the provisions about Google having the right to sell the ebook disturbed me immensely.
MaggieScratch is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 04-25-2009, 01:40 AM   #6
phenomshel
ZCD BombShel
phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.phenomshel ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
phenomshel's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,793
Karma: 8293322
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA)
Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis
Maggie, I'm confused. Is your book out of print? I was under the impression that if your book was still in print (and therefore you are still making money off of it) that the settlement provisions did not apply. Did I miss something?
phenomshel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2009, 02:38 AM   #7
Jill75
Zealot
Jill75 doesn't litterJill75 doesn't litter
 
Posts: 135
Karma: 150
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: none
Quote:
Originally Posted by phenomshel View Post
Maggie, I'm confused. Is your book out of print? I was under the impression that if your book was still in print (and therefore you are still making money off of it) that the settlement provisions did not apply. Did I miss something?
As what I read and understand from the posted news, only those out of print can claim. Its a good way since authors are o longer earning since being out of print but if its print and they still would compensate for it... would that be double strike?
Jill75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2009, 05:12 AM   #8
pdurrant
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.pdurrant ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
pdurrant's Avatar
 
Posts: 71,366
Karma: 305065800
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Voyage
By opting out of the Google Book Agreement you haven't prevented Google from scanning and using your work. You have just retained your right to sue them for copyright infringement if they do.

I'd be surprised if Google did continue to use works from people who have opted out though - as far as I can see they're mainly wanting to bring back orphaned works.

Even so, I'm really unhappy with the outcome. This is a major change to the way one company can use copyrighted works. Such a big and significant change realy ought to be done by legislation and not through a court settlement, and ought to work for anyone, not just one large corporation.


Quote:
Originally Posted by MaggieScratch View Post
I opted out. I was fine with Google having a partial scan of my book available--I think it could drive sales--but the provisions about Google having the right to sell the ebook disturbed me immensely.
pdurrant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2009, 01:43 AM   #9
MaggieScratch
Has got to the black veil
MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MaggieScratch ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
MaggieScratch's Avatar
 
Posts: 542
Karma: 2144168
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2
No, the book is still in print. I guess I didn't understand that part, and they definitely scanned the book. I'm fine with a partial scan being available, as I said it's like a free sample and helps to drive sales. But it's such a great big scary rights grab that I just didn't want to be part of it.

ETA: According to this Teleread post, the settlement class includes the author of any book published prior to January 5, 2009. I'm a member of that class. I might not have been eligible for an orphan-book payment, but that's okay because I want no parts of this.

Last edited by MaggieScratch; 04-26-2009 at 01:55 AM.
MaggieScratch is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The Google Book Settlement paulckennedy News 10 02-25-2010 02:11 PM
Stanford signs Google Book Search agreement, endorses court settlement kjk News 1 02-02-2010 11:15 PM
The Public Index: Google book search settlement website Elfwreck News 0 07-28-2009 11:23 AM
Authors Guild and Google reach settlement: Millions of scanned books to be available. jharker News 81 04-27-2009 01:21 AM
Radio Program on the Google Book-Scan Settlement - NOW! daffy4u News 2 11-26-2008 09:45 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:27 PM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.