Why is Google Hiding from Public View?

If the Google Books Settlement truly is in the public’s best interest, Google has a funny way of showing it.  First, Google released the settlement’s details at the witching hour of midnight on Friday.  Then last night, Google refused to address the facts behind the book settlement on a widely respected national television news program.

Yesterday, PBS’ The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer invited Open Book Alliance co-founder Gary Reback and Google Books Engineering Director Dan Clancy to discuss Google’s controversial attempt to get the courts to bless the modestly revised Google Books Settlement.  That didn’t happen and TechCrunch has the story.

Google continues to say they would like to have an open discussion on the merits of their revised settlement.  However, the only discussions about the settlement seem to be occurring behind the closed doors of the company’s Mountain View, Calif. campus.

What is keeping Google from having the open discussion they keep talking about?