On mySimon: Genuine BMW Baby Racer
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 44 of 52:
Next »
« Previous
Just a matter of convenience
When a book is made publicly available at a library, everyone has a right to view it without purchase. Google is simply attempting to make this more convenient.

As for their profits, I would argue that they come from the added feature of 'enhanced search' of the already public texts. Furthermore, they come from the whole of the collection, not any particular work.

I believe libraries were created for the greater good. One has to admit, a freely searchable site containing the entire Harvard library is a step in the same direction. So what if Google profits. The work involved is massive.

This is somewhat related to Napster, in that the RIAA was a sloth when it came to adapting their business model to the new world. Napster forced them to do that, and now we have a new way to purchase music.

Authors will have no choice but to follow suit, and it's about time.

This type of forced change is very common in many industries. And it is usually to the benefit of the (paying) consumer.
Posted by: jgearhart@...   Posted on: 09/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

It's Napster all over again  LateBlt | 09/20/05
Since when is wanting to make a living  Real World | 09/20/05
Nobody's calling it sinister, but...  LateBlt | 09/20/05
You assume publishing a book is free.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/05
Putting out books is cheaper than music  LateBlt | 09/20/05
Sorry, I still disagree  Real World | 09/21/05
Have you ever written anything?  voska | 09/21/05
Libraries  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
CDS in Libraries  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
try reading the law  voska | 09/21/05
Putting out books is NOT cheaper than music  vulpine@... | 09/21/05
Art is a product  RobertoSalazar | 09/21/05
This has nothing to do with Napster  specialk_z | 09/21/05
Benefit to Authors  Erik1234 | 09/21/05
Back to Napster again we are  specialk_z | 09/21/05
Not quite  ebphoto | 09/22/05
If the book sells the author profits  voska | 09/21/05
Libraries  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
That's your opinion  voska | 09/21/05
Ziiing...  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
Wonderful wink  petit@... | 09/21/05
LOL  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
You said it yourself  specialk_z | 09/21/05
I predict..  jgearhart@... | 09/21/05
Google does not provide a FAIR SEARCH  RobertoSalazar | 09/21/05
Granted, but..  jgearhart@... | 09/21/05
Oops!  John L. Ries | 09/20/05
On second thought...  John L. Ries | 09/20/05
Profiting is not considered fair use.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/05
Google Profits  Erik1234 | 09/21/05
Very fine hair  Patrick Jones | 09/21/05
Copyright does not give total control to author/copyright holder.  Root User | 09/20/05
Libraries  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
RE:Copyright does not give total control to author/copyright holder  ebphoto | 09/22/05
Perhaps you Google follk should...  Nigel Johnstone | 09/21/05
That's wrong  rapson | 09/21/05
Should be but it's not  voska | 09/21/05
Wrong, not illegal  rapson | 09/21/05
wrong is open to interpretation  voska | 09/21/05
Spot on!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/21/05
Nope, your wrong. The people the authors guild should be sueing is  Been_Done_Before | 09/21/05
libraries can do this  voska | 09/21/05
You missed the point  rapson | 10/03/05
Just a matter of convenience  jgearhart@... | 09/21/05
Bingo  Henrick Ericcson | 09/21/05
Right  jgearhart@... | 09/21/05
Hmmmm..  jgearhart@... | 09/21/05
Google Is Not The Good Guy  RobertoSalazar | 09/21/05
Google's right  Dr_Zinj | 09/21/05
Is somebody missing the point ?  carel@... | 09/21/05
Dogs in the Manger  thall@... | 09/23/05
Let's stay in the Stone Age, shall we?  pmyhre | 09/23/05

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

SmartPlanet

Click Here