The US Google Book Settlement - February Update

1: is the Settlement definitely going ahead?
2: who does it affect?
3: did the Society make a submission to the Court?
4: what do I need to do now?
5: remind me: what is the Settlement and how would it work?

ISA clearances for writers

Authors Visiting Schools / The Vetting and Barring Scheme

The Society made a submission to Sir Roger Singleton in early November recommending a number of specific changes to the controversial Vetting and Barring Scheme, taking account of the concerns raised both privately and in the press by authors. His report on the Scheme was published on 14th December.

The future of public libraries

In 2008 the Department for Culture Media and Sport announced that it was carrying out a ‘modernisation review’ of public libraries. We were expecting a comprehensive action plan to emerge. However in December 2009 - more than a year later - the Arts Minister, Margaret Hodge, launched a ‘consultation document’, Empower, Inform, Enrich.

Libel law - campaign for reform

The Society has given its enthusiastic backing to an initiative of English PEN and Index on Censorship. After a year-long enquiry the two organisations concluded that English libel law has a seriously detrimental impact on freedom of expression.

Online book piracy

We are aware of US companies such as Scribd.com that allow complete, in-copyright texts to be uploaded to their websites. This is being done very often, it seems, without the permission of the copyright owners.

We are monitoring developments and our advice to members is to get in touch with your publisher who should agree to instruct the website to implement its takedown procedure.