Where does Google Book Search fit?
A parting question: where does Google Book Search52 fit in this discussion? In relation to out-of-copyright works the basic concept of converting the world’s printed commons into a searchable commons is clearly a wonderful augmentation of the intellectual commons by technological advances. However, considerable questions remain about the extent to which this particular example may become an undesirable appropriation of commons for proprietary ends. Google is not allowing whole books to be downloaded by users, even if they are part of the commons: “If the book isn’t under copyright at all, you can browse the entire book in the Full Book View, but the aim of Google Book Search is to help you discover books and learn where to buy or borrow them, not read them from start to finish.”53 But it is in relation to books which are still within their copyright term that most dispute arises. With most such books Google is allowing the full text of the book to be searched, but only allowing a few s
