Sticky Notes Blog

A blog of writing news, tips, and inspiration from Fat Plum

More on Google Print

Google is, not surprisingly, running into controversy regarding its new Google Print program (about which we posted previously). According to PublishersWeekly:

Google says it's making changes that will accomodate publishers objecting to its Google Print for Libraries program, the biggest of which is that it will allow publishers not to participate. Publishers, however, were not appeased.

Essentially, the company is making the program an opt-out instead of an opt-in, allowing houses who contact them about Google Print for Libraries to pull books. (Earlier, the firm had said that all books would be a part of it regardless of publisher preference, in part because only snippets of these works were being made available.)

The company's Adam Smith, senior business product manager for Google Product and Google Scholar, said Google "still maintains that legally this isn't something that's required" but is doing this "in the interest of balancing the needs of publishers and users."

Publishers are notoriously protective of online rights, so it's to be expected that they would try to block or fight the program. And it's unlikely that Google has been "surprised" by their reaction, even though they claim to be.

All the same, I repeat my recommendation that authors do what they can to get their books listed in Google Print. You'll want to work with your publisher, without fail. Think through carefully how much of your work you want to have published online -- an extended excerpt could be enough to appear in relevant searches. Your goal should be to reach as wide an audience as possible, through useful search mechanisms. Google Print sure seems to be an innovative tool, one you should check out.

Posted by Cindy on August 12, 2005
This entry was posted in the following categories: Online publishing