2-Groups call for EU scrutiny of Google book deal; Reuters, 9/18/09

James Pethokoukis, Reuters; 2-Groups call for EU scrutiny of Google book deal:

"A hearing held by the European Commission on the matter onSept. 7 and attended by interested parties and Google officialsfailed to answer critics' questions, the groups said in aletter to EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy,Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes and six othercommissioners.

Signatories to the letter include Microsoft-sponsored
MSFT.0 lobbying group ICOMP, the German Publishers and
Booksellers Association, German lobbying group SuMa and CEPIC,
which represents about 1,000 picture associations, agencies and
libraries in Europe.

"We believe (the settlement) is unacceptable in its present
form as it violates the rights of copyright holders and authors
and would lead to a de facto monopoly," the groups said."

http://www.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idUSLI32506320090918

Europe's Heated Reaction to Google Books; Business Week, 9/9/09

Honor Mahony via Business Week; Europe's Heated Reaction to Google Books:

Publishers, booksellers, and authors are upset at the copyright, privacy, and censorship implications of Google's plan to digitize millions of books

"The Brussels hearing was organised after EU member states, particularly France and Germany, raised concerns about the Google's digital library, which is also due for a final hearing by the U.S. justice department in October.

Europe's various copyright laws make it impossible for it to have a similar settlement, but a statement by the commission on Monday called for a legislative framework that "paves the way for a rapid roll out of services, similar to those made possible in the U.S. by the recent settlement, to European consumers.""

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2009/gb2009099_774179.htm