Proposed Changes Fail to Address Fundamental Flaws, OBA Co-Chair Says

Open Book Alliance Co-Chair Gary Reback has issued a formal statement in response to Friday’s revised Google Books Settlement:

“The proposed changes fail to address this deal’s fundamental flaws.  Despite Google’s effort to spin this deal, it does nothing to promote competition nor does it reform Google’s exclusive access and monopoly hold on this digital database of books.  Their proposed “unclaimed works fiduciary” will have zero authority to promote competition or expand access.  It is a cynical diversion away from the parties’ continued reliance on the discredited argument that competitors can obtain access through the very means Google did – getting sued for copyright infringement and abusing the class action process.  This deal remains rife with anti-trust, class action and copyright violations.”