How Authors Can Make Money As Google Makes Books Available
Authors and publishers filed a class actions suit against Google claiming it violated their rights by scanning in-copyright books and displaying excerpts without permission. Google denied the charges, and a settlement was reached a few months ago, which still awaits court approval.If approved, the settlement will allow Google to scan in-copyright books into its electronic database. For out-of-print books and, if allowed by copyright holders, for in-print books, Google will be able to sell subscriptions to the database and make commercial use of the books. At any time, the authors and publishers can change their minds and change their instructions to Google.
By establishing a Book Rights Registry, Google will pay those who hold the rights to books 63 percent of all revenues they receive.To object to or opt into the settlement, authors and publishers must object or opt out by May 5, 2009. Claims for cash settlements must be made by January 5, 2010. Materials included are in-copyright novels, textbooks, children’s books, dissertations and other works that were published in print on or before January 5, 2009. Also covered are inserts, which include forewords, essays, letters, graphs, children’s book illustrations, and sheet music if independently copyrighted. Periodicals are not covered.
To read the full notice, you may go to htpp://www.googlebooksettlement.comAt Dorrance Publishing Company and all its affiliates, we are participating in Google Book Search. It is an excellent way to bring attention to the works of our authors and to generate revenues for them.Bookstore sales continue to decline, but e-book sales are growing at impressive rates. Amazon.com and Google are both important players in making these e-book offerings easily accessible, portable, and affordable. Authors often write to ask how they can make money from their books if Google and other Internet sites are making these books so easily available. This is, of course, the very question the class action suit has sought to address. And it looks like it will be a win for Google as well as for authors and publishers. More people will have access to and be able to purchase use of more titles. That’s good news.
By establishing a Book Rights Registry, Google will pay those who hold the rights to books 63 percent of all revenues they receive.To object to or opt into the settlement, authors and publishers must object or opt out by May 5, 2009. Claims for cash settlements must be made by January 5, 2010. Materials included are in-copyright novels, textbooks, children’s books, dissertations and other works that were published in print on or before January 5, 2009. Also covered are inserts, which include forewords, essays, letters, graphs, children’s book illustrations, and sheet music if independently copyrighted. Periodicals are not covered.
To read the full notice, you may go to htpp://www.googlebooksettlement.comAt Dorrance Publishing Company and all its affiliates, we are participating in Google Book Search. It is an excellent way to bring attention to the works of our authors and to generate revenues for them.Bookstore sales continue to decline, but e-book sales are growing at impressive rates. Amazon.com and Google are both important players in making these e-book offerings easily accessible, portable, and affordable. Authors often write to ask how they can make money from their books if Google and other Internet sites are making these books so easily available. This is, of course, the very question the class action suit has sought to address. And it looks like it will be a win for Google as well as for authors and publishers. More people will have access to and be able to purchase use of more titles. That’s good news.
I believe the protection of any creative work is important. Most people write out of love, or create something out of an inner joy. There are several authors who will never see their work published because that's not something they immediately think of doing. They write either to escape something or to address something. However where that work reaches the public it should be in the interest of individuals as well as companies to show respect and encourage the creators of these works to continue their love. Companies should not profit from others' creative work without both compensating the creator and worst, not thinking such person should be contacted at all in the first place. Respect for the next person is a basic human right that everyone should honor. And if we all try and practice that I am sure our immediate environment would serve us better.
Reply to this
Because of Google finding my books (I published 9) and placing them into the internet, I have much more exposure and sales. For me as an author and my husband's company, Google is a rewarding way to become known.
Trudy Dannhardt
Author
Reply to this
wunderbar!
Reply to this