Google Settlement Teleconference

The Writers’ League of Texas Presents

The Google Book Settlement:

What’s an Author to Do?

Teleconference Call with Media Attorney Steven D. Smit

4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2

Free to Writers’ League members / $10 for nonmembers
Register here

Steven D. Smith

If you’re an author who has received an opt-out letter regarding the Google Book Settlement, it’s hard to know what opting out or staying in actually means for you. And with the opt-out deadline of Sept. 4 approaching, authors are scrambling to make a decision.

As a service to our members and other authors, the Writers’ League of Texas is hosting a teleconference call with attorney Steven D. Smit, of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon, & Moody in Austin. Steve  has been monitoring the Google settlement and will give an overview of  the settlement and review the pros and cons of opting out.

NOTE: The conference call is limited to the first 90 registrants; you MUST register here. The dial-in number and pass code will be sent to registrants in an e-mail confirmation.

For more on the Google Settlement, see our previous post, “The Google Settlement: Opt Out or Stay In?”

Advertisement

The Google Settlement: Opt Out or Stay In?

We’re just as puzzled by authors as to what the Google Book Settlement really means for them and whether they should or should not opt out of the settlement. Although the Writers’ League of Texas cannot advise our members one way or another, we can provide some resources to help authors make an informed decision.

If you have received an official opt-out letter with a September 4 deadline, here are some links that you might want to look at:

The Google Book Settlement administration site

The Authors Guild

New York Times: “Group Lays Out Argument Against Google Books Deal” — About the new Open Book Alliance with members such as Microsoft, Amazon, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and Yahoo.

Publishers Weekly:

• “Major Objection to Google Settlement Is Filed” (August 19)
• “Authors Guild Claims William Morris ‘Off Target’ on Google Settlement” (August 10)
• “Guild Responds to Second WME Letter on Google Settlement” (August 17)

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) statement

FinePrint Literary Management’s Google Update page

The Association of American Publishers

That’s just a start of resources available. Ironically, “googling Google Book Settlement” will probably bring up more pros and cons about this!

If any of you find other good sites with information, please feel free to post a comment.

— Cyndi Hughes