M.E.D. agrees to meet on Google Book Settlement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday 18 September 2009

M.E.D. agrees to meet with NZSA on Google Book Settlement

The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) was this week contacted by the office of the Honourable Simon Power and informed that:

“The Ministry of Economic Development proposes to meet with the NZ Society of Authors following the outcome of the fairness hearing on 7 October 2009 to discuss any residual copyright concerns and if appropriate, to develop a process to address these.”

“We are delighted with this development” says NZSA President, Tony Simpson. “It will potentially give us an opportunity to address the concerns of many New Zealand writers and develop appropriate Government involvement”. He added “The French and German governments have stood behind their authors in detailed and powerful objections causing Google to revise some of their definitions of out-of-print books for European rights-holders. It is entirely appropriate for the New Zealand Government to take similar action, which we hope will be the case”.

After weeks of lobbying, CEO Maggie Tarver is equally pleased that the Government is finally acknowledging the potential for their involvement. “Of course we don’t know what the Settlement will be like following the fairness hearing, which could be of course some concern for those rights-holders who have remained in. And there is always the possibility that the US court will throw it out completely. But it is good to know that the MED is willing to meet with us to address issues should the need arise.”

Tony Simpson added “We will be in contact with the MED and the Minister’s Office immediately after the fairness hearing to arrange a suitable time to meet.”

The NZSA acknowledges the ongoing support of Rick Shera, Lowndes Jordan, on this matter.

ENDS

© Scoop Media