Grub Street Printing Newsletter - Google Settlement

DOJ Asks for More Changes

The Department of Justice issued its comments on the proposed Google Settlement on February 4^th and has provided eight specific problems that continue to need attention.

Justice has filed a statement of interest in the case and recommended that the judge postpones ruling and allow the parties to resume negotiations.

Even before the DOJ issued its comments critics of the revision voiced their dissatisfaction with a number of points that were not addressed or changed, including opt-out vs. opt-in, Google Book's immunity to future claims, and legal, monopolistic rights to copyrighted orphan works.

The opt -out option originally would have affected all books with a U.S. Copyright published after Jan. 5, 2009. The deadline to opt-out then was last September 4.

Hopefully Google Book (named Google Print in 2004) will once again roll back it's deadlines to claim ownership and opt-out of the agreement as negotiations seem destined to continue. The most recent deadline was Jan. 28, 2010, eight days before the DOJ comments were released.

Google is no stranger to the opt-out option and has been sued by a number of parties over a variety of its actions. Google's Street View service was sued for invading homeowners privacy both here and in the UK. Google's standard defense is that people are free to opt out after the fact.

The Onion put a humorous twist on the Google opt-out system last year and a You Tube video shows how ubiquitous yet invisible opt-in, opt-out is on the internet.

Here are more reactions to the DOJ comments.

The Paper Situation

Demand for paper in the US is expected to decline by 1.2% in 2010, following an 11.8% drop in 2009. Surprisingly, uncoated free sheet (e.g. offset, text, etc.) is expected to rise by nearly 2%. Domestic paper manufacturers also face increased paper imports into an already soft market place. Downward price pressure is coming from Asia and Indonesia which are currently offering uncoated free sheet at lower prices than coated.

I would encourage all publishers to review the Lacey Act which takes effect this April and requires chain of custody documentation establishing the origin of the trees used to make the paper in an effort to stop the use of rainforest trees in the making of paper products, sold or manufactured in the United States.

International Paper has announced plans to close it's Franklin, VA plant this spring idling three paper machines and 1,100 employees.

Grub Street Printing Newsletter #15 Feb./March 2010

Google Settlement

This issue of the newsletter was to be delayed a few days to report on the Justice Department’s response to last fall’s revised “Google Settlement”, which is due to be released on February 4.

Then all sorts of book industry announcements were made. A special newsletter will be sent after the Justice Department comments are available.

While We Were Waiting…

Quebecor Redux

On January 26, the nations largest privately held printer, Quad Graphics, announced that it has begun to acquire World Color Press, formerly known as Quebecor before last years bankruptcy, for $1.3 billion. The new public company would equal the nation’s largest printer, R.R. Donnelly, in revenues.

Borders Redux

Also on January 26, Ron Marshall resigned as CEO of the Border’s Group. Border’s faces numerous challenges according to Debtwire.

After a frustrating year, the turn-around expert leaves to head the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P).

Apple Newton Redux

And on January 27^th, Steve Jobs attempted to erase the memory of the 1993 Newton by introducing the iPad. Steve Jobs exalted that it was a “truly revolutionary and magical product.”

Priced from $499 to $699, WiFI capability is standard, while 3G adds $230 to the price.

Wii Read

A reading game called Storybook Workshop has been introduced for the Nintendo Wii. Participants can read the story on screen and read aloud with it, listen to the narrator read it or playback their voice reading the story while the program alters their voice for each character.

It’s Official

Pantone Inc. has named 15-5519 turquoise as the Color of the Year 2010.

Books Recalled

Oxmoor House has recalled over 1 million home improvement books going back to 1975 because of errors involving electrical wiring that could lead to fires or death.

A 5’ x 6’ Book

The largest book in the world will be on public display for the first time ever this summer. The 350 year old Klencke Atlas may be viewed at the British Library .

Brouhaha Brewing?

Steven Covey has moved the electronic rights for two of his best sellers from his longtime publisher Simon and Schuster to Rosetta Books which will offer the ebooks exclusively through Amazon (Kindle).

Simon and Schuster said it intends to protect all electronic rights for its backlist.