Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Joins Open Book Alliance

The Open Book Alliance gained a valuable and respected new member today. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA®) has joined our coalition of librarians, legal scholars, authors, publishers, and technology companies dedicated to countering the proposed Google Book Settlement. 

The full press release can be found in our news section. 

We’re excited that this great non-profit organization, which represents more than 1,500 professional science fiction and fantasy writers as well as artists, editors and allied professionals, is joining the effort to counter the Google Book Settlement as it’s currently proposed.

Russell Davis, SFWA president, says that “SFWA is excited to be a part of the Open Book Alliance, and we’re supportive of the work being done by this diverse group. The members of this group makes clear that the concerns about the Google Book Settlement are shared by many organizations from numerous perspectives in publishing and other, related industries.”

The SFWA issued a public statement on August 8, which detailed the organization’s myriad concerns with the settlement. It can be read here.

 Some more details about the SFWA…

 Founded in 1965 by the late Damon Knight, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America brings together the most successful and daring writers of speculative fiction throughout the world. Since its inception, SFWA® has grown in numbers and influence until it is now widely recognized as one of the most effective non-profit writers’ organizations in existence.  Each year the organization presents the prestigious Nebula Awards® for the year’s best literary and dramatic works of speculative fiction.

The SFWA becomes the 10^th organization to enter the Alliance, joining:

• Amazon (amazon.com)
• American Society of Journalists and Authors (asja.org)
• Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (clmp.org)
• Internet Archive (archive.org)
• Microsoft (microsoft.com)
• New York Library Association (nyla.org)
• Small Press Distribution (spdbooks.org)
• Special Libraries Association (sla.org)
• Yahoo! (yahoo.com)

We’re seeing a groundswell of support among industry, academic, and professional organizations that have growing concerns over the Google Book Settlement. Some of these concerns are making their way into the media, both here and abroad. The Alliance is focused on continuing to inform policy makers and the public about the serious legal, competitive, and policy issues the settlement proposal presents.