The „Google Book Settlement“, which has since been replaced by the „Amended Settlement Agreement” has brought the question of retro-digitisation of books and their online availability into the focus of public attention. Whilst Google in its Library Programme chose an approach that was not based on prior consent of rightsholders, digitisation projects in Europe are moving towards permission-based mass digitisation. After a brief look at the Google approach, this session will focus on alternative models and projects which are working towards making cultural heritage available in digital libraries and through Europeana. by: Jessica Sänger, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels

1. Retro-Digitisation of
Library Stocks
European Alternatives to the Google Model

2. Digitisation Plans
• Large-scale digitisation projects (European Digital Library, etc.)
• Increasing demand for content online
• Most books in library stocks are out of print
• But many are in copyright
• Avoid „20th century black hole“
• Percentage of orphan works?
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Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e. V.
B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

3. Google Book Settlement
• Based on Google library programme
• aimed at US territory (uses from US only – in theory)
• 2nd version ASA now before court
• Idea: scan everything, rightsholders must opt out to prevent
online uses
→ Copyright turned on its head
→ no protection of moral rights
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Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e. V.
B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

4. Google Book Settlement
• Google determines which books are commercially available
• Books not commercially available: default is display use
• Commercially available books: default non-display uses
• No assessment of availability at work level → danger of collision
with publisher‘s exploitation of work
• Cut-off dates for claiming and managing works
• Insufficient information of rightsholders
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

5. Google Book Settlement
• Management database severely deficient
• Non-US rightsholders were not properly represented in the
negotiations
• No search for rightsholders, no solution for Orphan Works
• Scan quality not always reliable
• Other concerns include over-stretching of class action format
and competition concerns (i.a. monopoly on unclaimed works)
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

6. German Stakeholder Proposal for Digitisation
• Proposal agreed between stakeholders
• Making use of existing RRO structure
• Libraries to start by digitising older works in copyright
• RRO‘s mandate is currently being extended to cover licensing
digitisation and making available of older out of print works for
non-commercial purposes
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

7. German Stakeholder Proposal for Digitisation
Conditions for the license from the RRO
• Books published in or before 1965 (in future: possibiltiy of
moving wall of 50 years)
• Work is out of print
• Non-commercial online use
License fee to be divided between rightsholders through RRO
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

8. German Stakeholder Proposal for Digitisation
• RH may choose not to participate at all (standard procedure of
notification in course of extension of RRO mandate)
• Participating RH receive detailed information on downloads
• RH may pull out individual titles at any time – and possibly re-
publish
• Safe Haven for libraries
• High-quality digitisation in public interest with public funding
• World-wide access
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

9. Proposals for Legislation in Germany
If most rightsholders do not object to extension of RRO mandate for
out of print works (very likely), the mandate could be extended
to non-members of the RRO.
Orphan works proposal: If diligent search for RH is without result,
RRO may license, indemnify library, and collect revenues in
escrow fund for re-emerging RH. RH may re-claim work, collect
remuneration and take control of all uses for the future.
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

10. Plans for Digitisation in France
• Negotiations between Ministry of Culture and French Publishers
• Working on an agreement to cover 500,000 to a million French
out of print books from the 20th century
• Public funding for digitisation of National Library stocks („Big
Bond“)
• Overall legally binding agreement for large category of
works with flexible opt in and opt out mechanisms
• Model for revenue generation and distribution still to be
developed
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

11. Arrow – an Essential Tool
Arrow = Accessible Registries of Rights Information on Orphan
Works towards the EDL
Project co-funded by the European Commission. Pilots have started
in a number of countries, including Germany.
Arrow as a technological project will serve policy, not make
policy. It aims to deliver a rights information infrastructure
operable within and across borders.
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

12. Arrow
• Identification of works, clustering of editions (books)
• Determining in print or out of print status by work
• Facilitating the identification of rightsholders (data collection) as
a tool within a diligent search
• Facilitating the identification of IPR status
• Creating a network of OW registries (European Registry)
• Arrow Plus: integrate countries without books in print databases
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

13. Books in print
Libreka!
• German Book Sector Portal for Full Text Search and E-Book
Distribution
• Based on Rightsholder Consent
• Neutral Platform, open to all
• World-wide access
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

14. Conclusions
• Digitisation of library stocks poses significant legal challenges.
• Google has not proposed a solution that meets the needs of
rightsholders or the public, but we can do better.
• Pragmatic solutions are possible and close to implementation.
• Stakeholder-driven; representation of rightsholders ensured
• Out of print categorisation reliable
• Withdrawal possible at any time
• Safe haven for libraries, high quality ensured
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B. Jessica Sänger, Legal Counsel

15. Thank you!
B. Jessica Sänger