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Google apologizes to Chinese authors
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Chinese authors are responding to Google's apology for scanning their books without permission. However, not all the writers are satisfied with the Internet search giant.
It's the first time Google has expressed regret over the backlash to its ambitious online library project. Some Chinese authors have welcomed the gesture.
Zhang Kangkang, Vice-Chair of Chinese Writers' Association in Beijing, said, "We'd like to accept it if Google says sorry."
But other authors are not satisfied. They remain skeptical over the sincerity of Google's apology.
Liu Jianwei, Chinese author, said, "Google claims individual writers must release an announcement demanding the pulling of their books from the shelf. That makes a collective solution almost impossible."
Liu Jianwei says there are many more authors whose books have been scanned by Google than are registered at the China Writers' Association and China Written Works Copyright Society. That's why it will be difficult for the two organizations to negotiate a deal with Google.
Although Google Books is available mainly to US readers, the company's long-term vision is to create a universally shared knowledge database. That, in a nutshell, is an online library for everyone.
But not everyone shares that vision. The online library project has encountered resistance in France and China, with angry authors and copyright watchdogs demanding compensation.
Interestingly, an expert specializing in online copyright disputes may have discovered the true reason for the anger against Google.
Wang Bin, Secretary General of Internet Copyright Alliance of ICS, said, "In the latest round of talks between Google and the CWWCS, Google may get less than 40 percent of the online reading income yet still make a profit. For Chinese online libraries, that's not even conceivable."
The China Written Works Copyright Society is due to hold its fourth round of talks with Google on Tuesday. Google is expected to provide a detailed list of scanned books and a compensation plan.
