Icy accusations bend Google branch

Google Books is the Internet giant's ambitious plan to create an online library for everyone on the planet. However, it has encountered hurdles of copyright and has been forced to review its actions. Shen Le takes a closer look at the online library's bumpy journey.

The project came under the spotlight when Google was accused of scanning some 80,000 Chinese written works without permission. The silicon valley legend, however, said it had not infringed Chinese authors' copyright while making an apology.

Eric Hartmann, Google Books, Asia Pacific, said, "Our understanding is that as long as Google Books keeps readers from accessing the entire document, it should be considered a proper use of copyrighted material."

Currently, the scanned Chinese works are only available as previews on Google's online bookshelf. The debate is still going on as to whether it amounts to tort. But some scholars have already taken sides.

Zhang Ping, Exec. Vice Dean of School of IPR, Peking University,said, "I believe everybody agrees that Google is very much likely to have committed tort. Now it's just a matter of determining the extent."