[ARSCLIST] LJ Academic Newswire Thursday, October 13, 2005 (fwd)

[Karl Miller <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, perhaps there may be a lobby to bring attention to the issues of
copyright...on the other hand...

Karl

Library Journal Academic Newswire (TM)
The Publishing Report
October 13, 2005

---------------------------------
GOOGLE GOES TO WASHINGTON
Despite its massive growth on the Internet, and more recently in stock
portfolios, Google has until now lacked a presence in Washington, DC.
No longer, however, as Google officials announced that they have set
up a Washington-based team to lobby lawmakers. Although that news may
be somewhat disconcerting to publishers, still wary of Google's
efforts to scan library books, it could mean some help for librarians,
as much of Google's legislative agenda appears to dovetail with that
of librarians. "Our mission in Washington boils down to this:" reads a
Google release. "Defend the Internet as a free and open platform for
information, communication and innovation." If that sounds a little
broad, company officials offered a little more detail on the issues it
is currently looking at--chief among them copyright and fair use.
"Google believes in protecting copyrights while maintaining strong,
viable fair use rights in this new digital age," reads a statement
Google's Washington Office. "We support efforts by the U.S. Copyright
Office to facilitate the use of orphan works (works whose
rights-holders can't be found), while fully respecting the interests
of creators."