For Immediate Release

August 12, 2005

Contact: Judith Platt
Ph: 202-220-4551
Email: jplatt@publishers.org

Google Library Project Raises Serious Questions for Publishers and Authors

The U.S. publishing industry, through the Association of American Publishers (AAP), continues to express to Google grave misgivings about the Google Print Library Project and specifically the Project's unauthorized copying and distribution of copyright-protected works. "Google's announcement does nothing to relieve the publishing industry's concerns," said Patricia Schroeder, AAP's President and CEO.

While publishers are eager to explore initiatives that promise to bring books to a vastly expanded audience through the innovative use of technology, the Google Print Library Project is digitally reproducing copyrighted works to support Google's sale of advertising in connection with its online search business operations without corresponding participation or approval by the copyright holders. Although the Project will get underway with the digitization of works in the public domain over the next three months, Google's plan calls for digitally copying every work in the collections of three major libraries unless specifically denied permission for a particular work by the copyright owner. "Google's procedure shifts the responsibility for preventing infringement to the copyright owner rather than the user, turning every principle of copyright law on its ear," said Mrs. Schroeder.

"Many AAP members have partnered with Google in its Print for Publishers Program, allowing selected titles to be digitized and searchable on a limited basis pursuant to licenses or permission from publishers. We were confident that by working together, Google and publishers could have produced a system that would work for everyone, and regret that Google has decided not to work with us on our alternative proposal," Mrs. Schroeder said.

About the AAP

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade organization of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's  approximately 300 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media is one of the Association's highest priorities.

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