The google library project both sides of the story

Google's announcement that it will include in its search database the full text of books from five of the world's leading research libraries has provoked newspaper editorials, public debates, and two lawsuits. Some of this attention can be attributed to public fascination with any move taken by Google, one of the most successful companies in the digital economy. The sheer scale of the project and its possible benefits for research have also captured the public imagination. Finally, the controversy over copyright issues has been fueled by Google's willingness to pursue this ambitious effort notwithstanding the opposition of the publishing industry and organizations representing authors. Much of the press coverage, however, confuses the facts, and the opposing sides often talk past each other without engaging directly.2 This article will attempt to set forth the facts and review the arguments in a systematic manner.3 Although both sides have strong legal arguments, the article concludes that the applicable legal precedents support Google's fair-use position. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]