Germany joins the list of opponents of the Google Books project

The Google project of digitizing millions of books is a hitch. One more. According to the German government, Google's plans would violate German laws on copyright and the protection of the privacy of Internet users in the country.

The Google agreement reached in October 2008 with Authors Guild and Association of American Publishers Inc would, according to the complaint German digitize books of German authors without their consent.

"The agreement would violate German laws that were established to protect authors and publishers in Germany with regard to the respect of the copying, editing and digital distribution of their works." said Johannes Christian Wichard, Deputy General Manager of Commercial and Economic Law of the German Ministry of Justice.

"The final decision on this agreement will have a long-term effect, since it would create a new global regime on copyright which does not have any input from those who would be affected," Wichard said. He noted that German authors unpublished in the United States were not represented by the Authors Guild has signed the deal with Google.
Google agreed to pay $ 125 million to create a Book Rights Registry, where authors and publishers can register works and receive compensation.

But the project has been controversial from the start. On one hand it is feared that the deal gives Google the ability to set prices for the print versions, once you scan the books and get on the Net If the service becomes a necessity for libraries, they would face monopolistic prices. Google rivals Microsoft, Yahoo and Amazon also recently opposed the agreement.

The U.S. Justice Department already investigating the terms of the agreement, while the forces responsible for ensuring competence in the European Union, led by Germany, have said they will study the case.
For the moment, and the agreement, the authors have until later this week to let Google know they do not want their works to be digitized. The hearing for final approval of the agreement by the U.S. justice system is scheduled for October 7.