Library Stuff

“Attorney General Pam Bondi announced today that her office has entered a multi-million-dollar settlement with CCH Incorporated, a law book publisher, over allegations of automatic subscription renewals, a practice referred to as a negative option plan, without adequate disclosures. CCH will mail approximately 5,000 consumers refund notices and provide a total refund amount up to $5 million to the consumers. The Attorney General’s Office will receive $1.4 million for investigative costs, attorney fees and future enforcement efforts.”

via Press Release

“The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Google today announced a settlement agreement that will provide access to publishers’ in-copyright books and journals digitized by Google for its Google Library Project. The dismissal of the lawsuit will end seven years of litigation. The agreement settles a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Google on October 19, 2005 by five AAP member publishers. As the settlement is between the parties to the litigation, the court is not required to approve its terms. The settlement acknowledges the rights and interests of copyright-holders. US publishers can choose to make available or choose to remove their books and journals digitized by Google for its Library Project. Those deciding not to remove their works will have the option to receive a digital copy for their use. Apart from the settlement, US publishers can continue to make individual agreements with Google for use of their other digitally-scanned works.”

via Google Press Release