Center for American Progress

Competition That Works: Why the Google Books Project Is Good for Consumers and Its Competitors
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Competition That Works: Why the Google Books Project Is Good for Consumers and Its Competitors

The Internet is a great device for creating new markets, democratizing knowledge, and increasing competition. The Internet permits boundless amounts of information and commerce to be exchanged. And the Internet provides new opportunities at Internet speed.

The Internet is a great device for creating new markets, democratizing knowledge, and increasing competition. The Internet permits boundless amounts of information and commerce to be exchanged. And the Internet provides new opportunities at Internet speed.

One of the greatest achievements in the last several years is the Google Books project, which scanned millions of books many of which were available in only a handful of the most preeminent research libraries. This project led to litigation brought by publishers and authors charging a violation of copyright laws. To resolve the litigation the protagonists entered into a settlement, which created a Books Rights Registry to make sure authors are appropriately compensated for their works.

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