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Google is in "notional" talks with UK publishers about a digitisation deal, the internet company has said. Speaking at the press conference to announce its agreement with Hachette Livre over book digitisation, the business also reiterated its view that its e-book platform would launch "shortly" with hopes it would be up and running across Europe by Easter. Google said Hachette had already signed up with Google Editions for the US.
Speaking yesterday at the announcement that Google can digitise Hachette Livre's out of print books, Dan Clancy, engineering director for Google Book Search, said the deal could "serve as a framework for other French publishers and maybe other publishers around the world”. He added there had been "notional" talks with some British publishers, but no active negotiations were in progress. Hachette UK would not comment on the news.
Industry observers welcomed the announcement saying it was a sign of how Google was "playing nice" towards book publishers. The deal, which will now be subject to six months 'fine-tuning', will also be made available to other French publishers and could be used by other publishers worldwide. Clancy said the deal could "serve as a framework for other French publishers and maybe other publishers around the world.”
On the surface, the deal achieves a similar result to the Google Books Settlement, though without the costly litigation and long-wait for judicial approval. Piers Blofeld, an agent at Sheil Land, and one of the harshest critics of the original GBS said: "At first look it is a far more collaborative system and crucially Google seem to have come a long way in their interpretation of copyright. This looks like good news.”
There is no upfront payment, under the new deal, and turnover from e-book sales will be shared. Hachette controls all titles to be scanned if it has copyright, even if the books aren't in print. Existing titles scanned by Google will be removed if Hachette chooses to do so.
There are between 40,000 and 50,000 books under French copyright that are commercially unavailable but Hachette will have the final say as to what will be scanned. French booksellers will also be able to sell these works.