French publishers and Google Books reach deal

Agreement reached which 'respects the rights of authors'.


After six years of legal battling, French publishers and Google have reached a deal on the scanning and online publishing of French books.

The deal means that French publishers and authors can opt in to Google's digitisation programme and decide if they wish to make titles available for sale or preview.  Revenues will be shared according to individual negotiations with Google.

The deal means that the outstanding lawsuits brought by the French Authors Society and by the French Publishers Association will be dropped.

More information via the Bookseller.