Microsoft Takes On Google in the Book-Scanning Biz

Posted on October 31, 2005

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Microsoft is getting into the book-scanning business. Unlike Google, however, Microsoft has joined the Open Content Alliance, a group founded to digitize and index books and other media. Members of the OCA include arch-rival Yahoo. Some see Microsoft's move as a way to compete with another arch-rival, Google, by offering a book-scanning service that doesn't violate authors' and publishers' copyrights.

Tim O'Reilly, whose O'Reilly Media book-publishing company belongs to the Open Content Alliance, expressed concern on his weblog that the group was "being hijacked by Microsoft as a way of undermining Google."
O'Reilly's comment arose from the fact that joining the alliance gave Microsoft a chance to try to cast itself in a positive light -- while contrasting itself with the Web search leader.
That's because Google has been involved in a high-profile dispute with book publishers and authors over its plan to scan in copyrighted books for searching in its Google Print Library project. Announcing its MSN Book Search initiative, Microsoft signed on to the Open Content Alliance's vow to incorporate copyrighted content only with permission of copyright holders.
"It's certainly much more complex, but it's the right way to do it," said Danielle Tiedt, MSN's general manager of search content acquisition. "For us, protecting copyright is really a core philosophical belief. I think it's the only way, long term, to make sure that this actually comes to market in the right way."

Well, it would be hard for Microsoft to pull a Google and scan everyone's books without regard to copyright, given Microsoft's long history of pursuing vigorous legal action against those who infringe the copyrights of Microsoft software. Regardless of the motive, kudos to the powers that be at Microsoft for agreeing to respect authors' copyrights.

Pat Schroeder, president of the AAP, is quoted as saying, ""We're very excited about the Microsoft project because it appears, unlike Google, they are doing it the right way."