Photographers File New Suit Against Google Over Book-Scanning Project
Photographers and illustrators who say they were left out of a proposed $125 million settlement by Google concerning its massive book-scanning project have filed suit seeking additional damages.
While scanning the books into a searchable database, they contend Google also scanned copyrighted photographs and other images, reports PC Magazine.
Among the plaintiffs in the federal suit, which seeks class action status, is the American Society of Media Photographers. The ASMP’s general counsel, says the plaintiffs hope to get “justice and fair compensation for visual artists whose work appears in 12 million books and other publications Google has illegally scanned to date.”
A Google representative says the company has done nothing wrong and contends that its book-scanning project in full compliance with international copyright law.
“Google Books is an historic effort to make all of the knowledge contained within the world’s books searchable online,” the company explains in an e-mail to PC Magazine. “It exposes readers to information they might not otherwise see, and it provides authors and publishers with a new way to be found.”
Founding partner James McGuire of Mishcon de Reya is representing the plaintiffs, reports the Financial Times. The firm filed suit today against Google in the Southern District of New York.
“Google is scanning in books and publications with visual images, which impedes the rights of the copyright holders of those images. We are seeking compensation for that,” McGuire says.
Additional coverage:
Reuters: “Google sued by visual artists over book scanning”
Updated at 3 p.m. to link to Reuters article.
