EU tackles Google on books
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EUROPEAN Union members want to create a joint project on the digitization of books, French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said, to challenge Google's plan to create a massive digital library.
EU ministers agreed in Brussels on Friday to create a committee of "wise men" to carve out a plan, Mitterrand said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche due to be published yesterday.
He also said the digitization of books should not be left to private companies and governments had to come up with appropriate policies.
"The committee will be asked to bring together national views and draw up a joint position," he said.
Google's plan to scan millions of books and post extracts online is part of a settlement deal reached with the US Authors Guild.
The plan has been praised for giving broad access to books but has also been criticized on antitrust, copyright and privacy grounds.
Asked whether the ministers were in favor of the Google settlement, Mitterrand said he could not comment for the moment.
"For my part, there isn't any anti-Americanism," he said.
"Nevertheless, I believe America isn't a monolith, and different opinions must be expressed.
"That's why I don't want the State to surrender before the markets," he said.
EU ministers agreed in Brussels on Friday to create a committee of "wise men" to carve out a plan, Mitterrand said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche due to be published yesterday.
He also said the digitization of books should not be left to private companies and governments had to come up with appropriate policies.
"The committee will be asked to bring together national views and draw up a joint position," he said.
Google's plan to scan millions of books and post extracts online is part of a settlement deal reached with the US Authors Guild.
The plan has been praised for giving broad access to books but has also been criticized on antitrust, copyright and privacy grounds.
Asked whether the ministers were in favor of the Google settlement, Mitterrand said he could not comment for the moment.
"For my part, there isn't any anti-Americanism," he said.
"Nevertheless, I believe America isn't a monolith, and different opinions must be expressed.
"That's why I don't want the State to surrender before the markets," he said.
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