EU Holds Hearing on Google Book Settlement

As opposition to the Google Books Settlement flows in from all corners of these United States, major players in Europe also had their chance to express their problems with the scheme in recent days.  Both France and Germany have officially registered their objection to the deal.  A French minister stated plainly:  “Google will have a monopoly digitalising European orphan works without permission.”

Yesterday, the European Commission held a hearing on the deal.  Testifying was Open Book Alliance co-founder Peter Brantley, who noted:

“We believe that the books rights registry essentially functions as a cartel.  Google can exploit all books via U.S. class-action. Competitors would be unable to access orphan works and cannot develop products and services matching their database and comprehensive services.  With Google granted a monopoly to unclaimed works, it would exercise a monopoly over subscriptions for the most comprehensive collection of books available.”

As All Things Digital’s Digital Daily says today:  “Seems Google’s effort to establish a de facto worldwide copyright regime isn’t going to be quite as easy as the company had hoped.”