Google Book Settlement: PA negotiates a better deal for UK publishers

The Publishers Association (PA) has played a key role in ensuring that UK works are better protected and UK publishers better represented under the revised Google Book Settlement which was filed today in the US.

The Amended Settlement Agreement now only covers books that are either registered with the U.S. Copyright Office or published in the UK, Canada, or Australia. Following criticisms by the Department of Justice that class members were not fairly represented, the PA agreed to offer its support on behalf of UK publishers conditional on a number of substantial revisions being negotiated.

The changes won will give UK rightsholders more control over their works and substantially decrease the risk of works being exploited without their explicit authorisation. It also guarantees representation for UK publishers on the Book Rights Registry’s Board of Directors.

Following several weeks of negotiations with the parties, the PA has filed a letter of support for the Settlement with the New York district court. The PA’s support explicitly acknowledges that some of the PA’s members such as Hachette UK are unable to support the Settlement; the PA’s support is without prejudice to the positions of its members which remain reserved.

Simon Juden, Chief Executive of the PA, said “I’m confident that the revisions we were able to negotiate on condition of our support are beneficial for all UK publishers who choose to remain in the Settlement. The alternative, which would have been to withhold our support and have UK works excluded from the scope of the Settlement, would have deprived UK rightsholders of control over how their works are exploited.

“We are extremely grateful to Macmillan for their invaluable support for the PA’s negotiating position as well as the expertise freely contributed for the wider benefit of the industry in its own negotiations as Plaintiff.”

The PA will hold a seminar in the morning of 1st December for both members and non-members to provide further practical guidance on what steps they should take next. More information will be available shortly at www.publishers.org.uk .

The Publishers Association (PA) is the leading trade organisation serving book, journal and electronic publishers in the UK. Our core service is representation and lobbying, around copyright, rights and other matters relevant to our members, who represent roughly 80% of the industry by turnover. Our membership is open to publishing companies that operate in the UK.