Judge Rejects Internet Archive Motion to Intervene in Google Settlement

Andrew Albanese -- Library Journal, 04/24/2009

(For a set of links, go to LibraryJournal.com/GoogleBookSearchSettlement.)

From Publishers Weekly:

A federal judge overseeing the approval process for the Google Book Search settlement has rejected an attempt by the Internet Archive (IA) to intervene in the action. In a short ruling released today, Judge Dennis Chin wrote that he construed the IA’s letter to the court, filed last week, as “a motion to intervene,” and denied it. “The proposed interveners are, however, free to file objections to the proposed settlement.” Objections and comments must be filed by May 5.

The IA had asked the court to alter the proposed settlement to give other companies that have scanned printed books the same protections regarding orphan works that would be granted to Google under the terms of the settlement. The IA has said it does not want to file an amicus brief, also known as a friend of the court brief, as other parties said they intend to do, because it believes “there are no existing parties in the case that could adequately represent the Archive’s interests, or the interest of other Internet content providers.” It also said it does not intend to oppose the settlement.