Google and College Libraries at Lockheads
Google May Become Your New Book
Google and US Publishers may finally settle their disputes over scanning and indexing of any book that Google can get its hands on.
It is a massive project initiated by Google to scan and digitise every book whether old or new. The indexing will turn up in your Google search results. Most publishers and authors are claiming that it will point the user to directly the information they are looking in the book. Thereby defeating the purpose of purchasing the book.
I personally feel that it will be very unfair of Google is given the nod by US courts to continue their crazy digitization of book. The settlement will be made on the basis that Google will compensate the benefactor monetarily.
But the issue is not of Google being legal in its way of deliverance nor is it about giving copyright to Google.
The point is that this places one company in a prime position to become the world’s library. Instead of Google remaing a private enterprise, this company is slowly going to pose rules on the way you live your life. This is not a healthy practice and could prove dangerous in the long run. Movies featuring robots converting humans into slaves could well turn into a reality if Google is piled on with prime power on People resources such as Books.
Google may as well be invading territories where it should not, such as the beloved libraries of book lovers. Giving Google the right to scan and search book content may be considered as giving a part of our lives to a private profit maker.
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