Google Books faces new copyright lawsuit from photographers

The seemingly never-ending opposition to Google’s controversial plan to digitise thousands of books and put them online has hit another snag, with an organisation representing photographers launching a class action against the company.

In a class action suit filed in a New York-based federal court, The American Society of Media Photographers has sued Google, claiming that the search giant has scanned and displayed millions of books without the approval of those who control the rights to the photographs and other artwork inside those titles.

“This is a civil action that arises under the laws of the United States and is designed to redress the most widespread, well-publicised, and uncompensated infringement of exclusive rights in images in the history of book and periodical publishing,” the suit reads.

The photographers body launched the class action after being refused permission to join a similar class action by the US Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers.

Google has responded to the law suit by saying that it is confident its books project complies with international copyright law.

While Google has already scanned and displayed about 10 million books, its plan to greatly expand this push have hit a few hurdles.

In October 2008, Google was forced to settle the lawsuit from the US Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers with a $US125 million deal that would let copyright holders share in any profits from book sales.

However, that deal is yet to be formerly approved in court, after publishers, competitors, academics and the US the Department of Justice voiced disapproval.

It is still not known when – and if – Google’s settlement deal will be approved.