Publisher: No Thanks, Google.

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Author: Albanese, Andrew

Upset over Google's plan to scan books from university library shelves, publisher Rowman & Littlefield has pulled out of the Google Print for Publishers program and refused a meeting with Google. In an email exchange, Jed Lyons, president and CEO of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. and the National Book Network, called the Google Print Library Project "an outrageous rip-off."

Rowman & Littlefield is the only publisher to withdraw from the publisher program because of the library project. So why object to the permissions-based program, Google asked. Lyons said the library project is "flagrantly violating U.S. copyright law," so his company won't participate in any Google program "until you stop this illegal activity."

Lyons pointed to the difficulties the plan has caused for one prolific author, Bard College theologian Jacob Neusner. Neusner, who has authored or edited as many as 900 volumes, cited a burdensome "opt-out" process, in which Google asked him to check for proper rights clearance, which is typically the responsibility of the party doing the copying or its agent. Google says many publishers are pleased with library scanning as it allows them to upgrade library-scanned books into Google Print for Publishers without having to locate the book or ship it.

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By Andrew Albanese