Google Book Settlement: Statement by US Copyright Office

[wolfinthewood]

Marybeth Peters of the US Copyright Office to the House Judiciary Committee today, on the Google Book Settlement:

'We are troubled by the fact that the proposed settlement implicates so many foreign works even when they have not taken steps to enter the United States market. While it would be appropriate to allow foreign nationals to participate voluntarily in licensing programs that may be developed by the BRR or other collectives, they should not be automatically included in the terms of the settlement. Moreover, we are aware that some foreign governments have noted the possible impact of the proposed settlement on the exclusive rights of their citizens. Indeed, many foreign works have been digitized by Google and swept into the settlement because one copy was in an academic research library in the United States. As a matter of policy, foreign rights holders should not be swept into a class action settlement unknowingly, and they should retain exclusive control of their U.S. markets.'

The whole statement is good: http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Peters090910.pdf

Thanks to James Grimmelmann and his invaluable Laboratorium site for the link.