Google, American publishers and the US Authors Guild have been given until next month to revise a book-scanning agreement for out of print titles and orphan works.

The Google Settlement was rejected by US judge Denny Chin in March, who said the plan to create a digital library "would give Google a significant advantage over...

The Open Book Alliance has warned parts of the Google Settlement could lead to legal action taken against the US by foreign governments and "will certainly expose the US to diplomatic stress".

The alliance, which includes commercial organisations such as Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo!, as well as bodies such as the National...

The Italian government has signed a deal with Google to scan up to a million books from the national libraries in Rome and Florence, reports the AFP.

The internet giant is to set up a scanning centre in Italy employing 100 people, and will “cover the costs” of scanning the titles. Works scanned will be out-of-copyright titles...

Authors concerned by the Google Book Settlement and the Digital Economy Bill have set up a grassroots campaign group, Action on Authors' Rights, to protect writers' interests.

Gillian Spraggs, Diana Kimpton and Nick Harkaway are among the founder members of the new group, as is literary agent Meg Davis. Authors Juliet E McKenna,...