Microsoft accuses Google Book Search of copyright violation

[Alexander Turcic]

Microsoft and the Association of American Publishers go hand in hand by accusing Google of copyright infringement for the latter's Google Book Search project. Wall Street Journal has a story today that Thomas Rubin, one of Microsoft's top attorneys, is criticizing what he sees as Google's "cavalier approach to copyright":

Much of Mr. Rubin's speech focuses on Google's project to scan millions of books in university and public libraries so that they can be searched on the Internet. In 2005, that plan prompted separate suits by the Authors Guild and five major publishers, alleging copyright infringement; the actions were filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. In his prepared remarks, Mr. Rubin says that after Google received "unfettered access" to the libraries, it then "basically turned its back on its partners" by making copies of copyrighted books without first obtaining copyright holders' permission. The approach, Mr. Rubin argues, "systematically violates copyright and deprives authors and publishers of an important avenue for monetizing their works.

Microsoft, the moral warrior for good against evil, might try to shut down competition by making claims of copyright infringement; but seriously, have you ever considered using the Microsoft's publisher-friendly Live Search Books portal (once it has launched)?

Read the full WSJ story here (subscription required).

[RWood]

And we all know that Microsoft is only fighting for our rights without a single thought as to themselves.