http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/ Engadget Comments for Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo unite against Google Books http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Google -- you're becoming evil.]]>Aug 21st 2009 9:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 7:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
To be more precise, you would read a lot more old books if you didn't have to pay, as no one would write new books because they'd be too busy trying to make a living doing something that does pay.]]>Aug 24th 2009 9:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
it simply means that people who wouldnt buy them could read them, or read the start and decent if to continue.

Firstly.... its less likely to affect books. how many ppl will want to read a book of 500pages from a monitor? ppl read in bed (kindles aint that big yet) most people will still want a hard copy. like people want cd's and films ]]>Aug 24th 2009 7:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/

....maybe.]]>Aug 21st 2009 9:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
马马虎虎

Horse Horse Tiger Tiger, (in Chinese, means, Soso, Average, Meh)

Dare I say it, a huge compliment to MS and their cronies.]]>Aug 21st 2009 8:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 10:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
It's basically gaining a monopoly by dirty business and anticompetitive business rather than by making really good products. I'm not saying Microsoft's in the wrong right now; I'm simply pointing out the humour in Microsoft complaining about anticompetitive business practices. The pot is calling the kettle black.]]>Aug 21st 2009 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Apple are sort of doing a Microsoft by locking the Pre out of iTunes, though. They're far more rotten than they used to be. Google don't really stop you leaving their services (they've reached their position by offering great services 'for free'), they just have a scary amount of data and controversial privacy policies.]]>Aug 21st 2009 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 7:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Of course, Google Books is cool, whilst internet explorer isn't, so that also explains the Google Book love.]]>Aug 21st 2009 9:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 10:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/]]>Aug 21st 2009 8:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Google Toolbar is never offered this way at all.......


Tool.
]]>Aug 21st 2009 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Hmmm... I smell an SNL skit from this line of thinking...]]>Aug 21st 2009 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Sounds like another ODF ~ OOXML struggle.]]>Aug 21st 2009 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 8:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sa_OQgWiPA]]>Aug 21st 2009 9:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
The Internet Archive is being supported by Amazon, MS, Yahoo in their bid to keep book content open and free. They have scanned over 1.5 million books and all are available as free. They are concerned Google will get a monopoly over the delivery of all such book content (free or otherwise). The EFF and American Libraries Association are also concerned about Google's impending deal.

Google claims it's distribution rights will guarantee authors some profits from access fees. All the major publishers apparently have inked this deal with Google - we'll have to see what the legal ramifications are, as it's unclear.]]>Aug 21st 2009 9:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
And the settlement is NON-EXCLUSIVE, so it allows ANYONE to negotiate with authors or groups to get their books scanned.

In fact, the Authors Guild specifically stated that authors' rights would not be affected one way or another.

This whole hissy fit from Yahoo and Microsoft is a play to get at Google's already digitized library without having to spend their own time and money.]]>Aug 21st 2009 4:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
Perhaps the settlement should have expressly allowed others who set up book-scanning operations to participate in the same revenue-sharing structure, but that doesn't stop other book-digitizers from cutting their own deals. And surely the Google Books settlement would provide a valuable precedent for their deal-making?

As for authors, the question of "orphaned" books is a delicate one, but unless you're fine with no distribution of books whose owners can't be located, the settlement seems as good as any.

I've also heard that the deal is too US-centric, but the complaints run both ways. There are those who complain that the deal doesn't allow readers outside the US access to Google Books, because Google only gets to work with the US copyright. There are those who complain that Google is allowed to digitize books which are under non-US copyright.
So on one hand, Google should get more rights to sell internationally, while on the other hand they should restrict their activities?

OBA in general seems like a hodgepodge of often-contradictory complaints. The only way to unite them is to paint Google as the monopolistic villain, which everyone agrees is not beneficial... except Google isn't trying to establish a monopoly here, and it doesn't seem that a "natural monopoly" will spring up either.

Amazon and Microsoft are not trying to sabotage Google for philanthropic reasons.]]>Aug 22nd 2009 3:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 9:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/Aug 21st 2009 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/21/amazon-microsoft-and-yahoo-unite-against-google-books/
I think you're forgetting the fact that labor is hardly ever free. People work for hours spending time creating, editing, illustrating, outlining, and everything else associated with the contents of a book. I think they deserve compensation for their craft.

Also, Google isn't exactly as nice as they always appear. Google is more closer to Big Brother than the other companies in knowing and analyzing your data, which is used for Google's benefit more than the user. ]]>Aug 21st 2009 5:08PM