Google Seeks Protection to Copy Books Without Permission

Google Inc., owner of the world’s largest search engine, tried to persuade a judge that digitally copying millions of books for online searches without authors’ permission is protected by copyright law.

The company argued Monday in federal court in Manhattan that the fair-use provision of the Copyright Act shields it from liability for infringement. Authors and a trade group oppose the project, claiming Google has taken away their rights for its own gain without compensating them.

U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin quizzed both sides about the public’s interest in the project, at a hearing where Google asked him to end an eight-year-old lawsuit by the Authors Guild and individual writers. If Chin finds Google liable for infringement, it could cost the company more than $3 billion in damages and end a project on which it has spent as much as $40 million annually. He didn’t say when he’ll rule. Read more...