Google Library Print Project - Case Study Example

Running head: Google Library Print Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date of Submission: Google’s Library Project is one of the internet library project’s that has been perceived to be more beneficial to scholars as well as researchers in terms of accessing certain materials online from particular books which are not found on most of the library shelves. Though, Google’s main argument on scanning the books and making them accessible online to a majority of internet researchers is beneficial to both parties thus the authors , publisher’s and Google as the initiator of the project some groups have been harmed in the entire process. To begin with, the two main groups which have been severely harmed by Google’s Library Project Program are book publishing companies and the authors of the books (Band, 2006). Some of the authors who have suffered this harm comprise of Guild and major publishing companies such as McGraw Hill, Pearson Education, Penguin Group, Simon & Schuster and John Wiley & Sons. By scanning the books, Google claims that it is doing good for the world and not evil, this is not the case since Google’s program has detrimental effects to these entities. Primarily most of the publishers as well as authors of books publish books mainly for business purposes thus to sell them and earn some revenue in return (Band, 2006). When Google scans the books and make the copyrighted materials available online, it becomes accessible to public at free of charge hence Google ends benefiting at the expense of the authors and publishers. To control this situation the main solution is for Google to give some monetary compensation to the book publishing companies. Once this in place, the publishers should make contracts with authors whereby they give certain percentage of the monetary compensation earnings to the book authors. Additionally, a fair payment structure should be implemented between Google, publishers and authors of the copyrighted books that are being indexed by Google (Thatcher,2005). This will erase any misunderstanding between the parties since both parties will stand to benefit from the program. Moreover, it is necessary that Google negotiates with authors for the licenses before actually copying the materials from the books. This in the end will convince the authors to let Google copy the materials for free by giving them a small percentage of the total revenue earned from the sales as this will help many authors to get more sales for their books (Band, 2006). Availability of resources as well as educational materials is important in the current world of research. This actually brings us to the conclusion that any librarian who believes in availability and free exchange of information essentially should be in full support of the Google’s Print Library Program. Since the Google Library Project is to scan and make books accessible online this projects ends up serving as library of its own for most of internet researchers as well as scholars who have no time to go and research in the libraries. In essence this library has a model which is similar to that of any public library as the two primarily serves the same function which is to provide accessibility of information to various individuals(Band, 2006). Google’s Library mainly allows its users to access complete compendium of books making it easier for people to find as well as discover works which otherwise would be buried on library shelves. By Google assembling a searchable index of books it actually creates a research tool of historic significance in which various users would be able to locate and access wealthy information buried in books in the libraries. Additionally, by Google including this information in its search index, it will doing students a great favor by actually directing students to sources of information which are far more reliable than any other websites. Moreover, by Google making full texts for a million books available online to many users it will increase demand for these books hence authors end up gaining exposure of their works. Furthermore, Google Library Project is very much important since it enables various individuals to share ideas as well as knowledge. Though, Google is doing a great work by giving people an opportunity to access more materials online without much hustle, this project poses a great threat to the existence of conventional libraries(Band, 2006) .This is because the existence of Google library would cause a competitive edge over the existing physical libraries due to its extensiveness and accessibility. This implies that Google’s book database would potentially render many existing public libraries outdated. Copying a copyrighted material or work is usually considered an infringement only if the owner of the material does not agree for his or her materials to be used. In circumstances where the owner does not object and gives permission for materials to be copyrighted then it is not considered to be an infringement of copyright laws. Though, this the case Google has specifically designed a book Search which was developed in order to comply with copyright laws. This implies that any individual can only be able to view, browse as well as read public domain books only. In cases which books have been protected by copyright laws, users are only allowed to see basic background information in regards to the book such as book’s title as well as the author’s name plus few lines of text related to the user’s search. Additionally, information on where the user can buy or borrow the book is usually provided. In situations where the publishers or authors don’t want their books to be digitized Google normally takes the initiative of excluding them from print which defends its argument of fair use. Copyright laws actually create property interests for any creative works similar to any other property interests. As long as the owner of the materials does not object Google can copy the materials the way it wants. Though, some authors such as Guild are objecting the indexing of all authors works, their main objective is to try and avoid competition from multitude of authors who support the Google Library project as well as indexing of their work. It is quiet clear that some others have no right under the copyright law to actually prevent Google from copying the materials from authorized others and publishers(Band, 2006). Google print is a partner program and Google does not scan the books without the permission of the authors as well as publishers rather it scans books after getting permission from publishers. Google therefore can copy the materials as it is not doing evil rather it’s doing justice to most scholars who cannot afford to pay for online books as well as journals from Amazon as well as other book publishers. Since the Publishers give Google permission to make available part of their books or just mere bibliographic information thus title, author and publisher on Google’s search engine it increases a wider market for the publishers as well as authors since their books can be accessed by a majority of scholars as well as academic institutions(Band, 2006).On other hand Google also benefits in the event by selling more ads hence both the two partners end up benefiting from the entire program in terms of profit as well as revenue. As a business matter this can be considered to be a fair use both Google and authors have intentions of profiting from the use and sale of scanned books. As a legal matter, I believe that Google’s practices would fall under the category of copyright infringement since it prints some materials without the permission of the authors as well as publishers. This is because Google ends up profiting from the copyrighted materials in which some situations they have not been authorized use as well as distribute. Though, many publishers as well as authors are struggling to put an end to this practice, it is impossible to stop it with the current world of technology. In some situations an individual can only access particular pages including bibliographic information hence end up not buying the book. Though, some authors have a right to sue Google with the basis on individual infringements. Some others understand that this may not work for them given that the fact Google book prints are only snippets hence the materials for searching by most researchers as well as scholars actually falls under the category of “research in a fair use” (Band, 2006). Important differences exist between Google’s Library Project Program and the Open Content Alliance Program. To begin with, the Open Content Alliance program is actaully a joint association between the Microsoft and Yahoo project which primarily focuses on indexing the books in the public domain. Additionally, it obtains permission first before indexing the copyrighted materials into its database. Furthermore, it allows its users to purchase particular parts of book or even the entire book from the Microsoft’s search engine MSN(Band, 2006). On other hand Google is a single project primarily aimed at scanning books with or no permission from the authors as well as it does not allow its users to purchase individual parts of the book from its sites unless under specific situations. Moreover, Google aims at having every book indexed under its database with or without permission from the authors or the publishers (Band, 2006).Open Content Alliance book scanning project is to produce an open database of book contents that will be accessible from any search engine including Google’s. Mostly OCA will focus on books in the public domain, often of historical interest. But for books still under copyright protection they will obtain permission from the publishers before scanning. On other hand Google wants to own and control its database of books. Google has very deep pockets filled with cash hence it has established a viable business unlike Microsoft as well as OCA which quit the business as result of inadequate business model. By pursuing the Library Program Google primarily wants to put everything digital on its servers hence providing relevant information to its searchers. By providing access to these scanned books online through search engines without a charge, selling ad space and marketing millions for its own account without sharing the revenue with publishers as well as others (Bowker, Aug 2008).Additionally, by Google establishing Google Library online it is giving publishers options to feature their own books through search engines on their sites as well as Google’s site. This primarily creates more exposure on the side of authors as it is accessed by many people hence creating more sales for them. Moreover, this helps in sharing of knowledge as well as ideas among scholars as well as researchers (Band, 2006). References Band, J. (2006). The Google Library Project: Both Sides of the Story. Publisher: Fabrication, and Falsification Bowker, R., R (Aug 2008).Library hotline, Volume 37, Issues. Publisher: University of Michigan Thatcher, S. G. (2005). “Fair Use in Theory and Practice: Reflections On its History and the Google Case.” NACUA conference on “The Wired University: Legal Issues at the Copyright, Computer Law, and Internet Intersection.” Arlington, VA Ethical, Social and Political issues in E-commerce: Chapter 8, pp.8-63 Read More