Quote:
Originally Posted by SpiderMatt
I agree. Copyright laws are ridiculously stringent. I do applaud Google for this effort. Ultimately, having digital copies of all these books is going to benefit society and it's more of an effort than any other group has put forward. What's with the complaint that Google was looking for profit? It's worth noting that Google Books has cost Google much more money than it's made. Even though Google was probably hoping to get to a point at which the project would generate more money than it was taking to support, I don't recall this ever being a vice in the United States. Pardon me if I don't shred any tears because Google isn't a socialist operation. If they were, it'd be a poor excuse for a business model.
OH NOES!!!! GOOGLE IS OUT TO MAKE A PROFIT!!!! VILLAINY!!!! SCANDAL!!!! END OF THE WORLD!!!!
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I too, work to make a profit. Please pay attention to the actual objection - it makes for a more productive discussion. It also helps if you avoid hyperbole and characterizing the opposing viewpoint as illiterate ranting.
Google's business model was to make a profit by intentionally circumventing laws. While individuals may do so and plausibly claim "civil disobedience" in some instances, public companies can not. Google did not set out to act as they are now doing, they were sued into doing so by the people from whom they were stealing. Perhaps they should change their name to "Robin Hood", the way some are reacting.