IP Democracy: Must-Read: Who Gains and Loses with Google Print

Ed Rothstein has an essay in today’s New York Times on the implications of Google’s move to make books searchable online. What’s valuable about what Rothstein is saying is the context — he outlines the historical conflicts between writers and technological innovation.

In the end, he comes down on Google’s side.

Google, which is engaged in a project that was sci-fi fantasy two decades ago, is essentially being accused of piracy, creating copies of protected works without prior permission. But these are new kinds of copies, with very different uses; only books out of copyright will be fully available online.

What’s also valuable about Rothstein’s piece is his notification of a truly cool event for those who happen to be in New York City on Thursday.

The controversy promises to erupt on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the New York Public Library’s Celeste Bartos Forum, when the debate will be joined by members of the guild, the publishers’ association and Google. Also in the fray will be Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School, Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired Magazine, and Paul LeClerc and David Ferriero from the library (which is participating in Google Print).

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on November 14, 2005 9:40 AM to IP Democracy