September 22, 2005 | posted by Michael Baxter in Uncategorized |

Maybe book publishers are being a little like King Canute, trying to hold back the inevitable internet tide, or maybe they are simply fighting for their rightful corner of the market.

Google has plans to create a massive online library, using books from US libraries of Stanford, Michigan and Harvard universities, and by 2015 from the New York Public Library. It is also planning to include out of copyright books from the Oxford University library.

Now the Authors Guild has filed a lawsuit against the Internet wonder company.

Nick Taylor, president of N the New York-based Authors Guild, said in a statement: “This is a plain and brazen violation of copyright law.”

Google maintains that its online library will help authors. It says only extracts from books will be available and its library will create more awareness for their work.