All the fuss over Google Print

Google is a giant. We all knew that when we got sucked into the gmail marketing scheme of exclusivity, that Google was going to take over the world. Now we’re all obsessed with googling strange people and telling everyone to sign up for google earth so they can see a satellite shot of their block. Now Google has Google Video (which allows you to upload videos for free, see Ben for more on that one.) and Google Print, which is making huge waves in the publishing industry. Google print scans in books and then allows readers to scan the text for certain words. It, on one hand does not allow the reader to look at each page from beginning to end, but if you search for a characters name (which most likely appears on every page) you can have access to the entire book. Google claims that the public will not have full access to copyrighted material. I say, where there’s a will there’s a way.

Publishers are suing Google because Google Print violates copyright laws. Authors are, of course, afraid of loosing royalties, just like publishers are afraid of lower books sales. Google might become the napster of books, although it never stopped people from downloading.

Making any type of art free to the public is a very delicate subject. Art is getting to the point that it has become inaccessible to people of lower classes, if someone can’t afford to buy a CD then they can’t listen to music, if they can’t afford to buy a book, they can have access to libraries although, from personal experience, they can be lacking in content. On the other hand as an artist it is important to be able to live off your work. Especially for writers who aren’t Stephen King, Danielle Steele, or J. K. Rowling. So there you have it. The conundrum of the day.

Check out Maud’s piece about lower income consumers and online books stores. Also worth note is an article printed in the Wall Street journal by a writer in favor of Google Print. Via Chekov’s Mistress.