However, those pure beliefs may lead them to underestimate the political aspect of this fight.

Plus, Pat Schroeder fights on different territory than Google is used to.

Excellent idea and one that I too endorse. Unfortunately, that type of advertising sharing revenue model is being resisted by Google. Google does not want to share that much advertising revenue with publishers &/or authors. This would mean giving up to 80% of the ad revenue to the content providers, which would be similar to the up to 80% currently being paid by Google to distribution partners for AdSense for Content).

Instead, Google is trying to get publishers and authors to be happy with increased book sales and it keeping all the advertising revenue, or only sharing a small portion of it. It threatens to use fair use to get their desired result.

Seems evil to me for Google to profit so greatly from the years of hard effort by authors and the expenses publishers incurred to produce these works. How is Google doing the right thing for publishers or authors? Seems like a big slap in the face to me.

No one disagrees that having the world’s books readily accessible is a good thing, the question is the business model and who gets rewarded for what value added to the world.

Having no knowledge of the negotiations, perhaps this was offered and rebuked by the publishers…if so, that’s probably just because the guarantee wasn’t high enough….

Fair enough, though the question itself it fair enough to: has Lessig received or is he receiving any compensation from Google?

Basing public policy issues like copyright law on trusting two 32 year olds is not prudent in my opinion.

I think it’s both inappropriate and wildly off-the-mark to assert that Larry Lessig is bought and paid for by Google… or any corporation for that matter.

Perhaps you don’t actually know of the guy’s work or (IMHO) brilliance, but he’s been a tireless champion for the rights of individuals to access and appropriately use information for many years.

I’ve heard him speak and I’ve read much of what he’s written. He’s thoughtful, articulate, and hardly a ‘tool’.

Say what you like about Google, but I believe it reflects poorly on you to suggest (without any backing) that a passionate defender of consumer rights like Mr. Lessig is dishonorable. We need MORE people like him in our society!

ceo