Europe Targets Google Books

More trouble is brewing for Google in Europe. Many publishers there wish to challenge an agreement between their American counterparts and the search giant. The European publishers’ opposition could alter the future of the digital-book business. Publishers worry that a preliminary agreement in the U.S. will cause them to lose rights to European works in American libraries. Groups in Germany and France, as well as a Nordic publishing association have outlined their grievances against the proposed settlement. One organization said it worried the deal "renders illusory European rights holders’ right to control publishing of their own books." Google says the concern is unnecessary, telling the Financial Times that its U.S. book-search service "complies with international copyright laws” and that it “is in no case calling into question the copyright of authors and publishers outside of the U.S.”