Issues in Vendor/Library Relations -- So What's Wrong with Opt-Out?

The article presents an argumentation between Google Inc. and various book publishers on the issue of digitization of the books in the libraries. In December 2004, Google announced that it had entered into agreements with five major libraries--the New York Public, the Bodleian at Oxford, and the University Libraries at Harvard, Michigan and Stanford--to digitize their book collections, index them electronically, and make them searchable online. In return, the libraries received a digital copy of all the books they loaned to Google for this purpose. Ever since Google announced the project though, publishers have been objecting to what they regard as a massive infringement of their rights, since Google intended to digitize copyrighted works without seeking permission. Google responded that publishers could "opt-out" if they wished by withdrawing individual titles from the project. Opted-out books would still be digitized, though, a copy of them kept in Google's database, and digital copies still given to the participating libraries. Opt-out would only mean that those titles would not be displayed in the search results.