Google Books Settlement

The Google Books Settlement was an agreement in 2008 resolving legal disputes over Google's effort to digitize and make searchable millions of copyrighted books. Publishers and authors initially sued Google for copyright infringement, but the settlement aimed to create a framework allowing Google to display snippets and license full texts with compensation. It sought to balance public access to knowledge with creators' rights, enabling easier discovery and purchase of books online. The settlement faced ongoing legal challenges and was ultimately rejected in 2011, leading Google to continue digitizing books under fair use principles while establishing licensing agreements.