Microsoft Corporation, the software giant, has prepared to launch a fierce attack on its core competitor Google, accusing that the Web search leader takes a cavalier approach to copyright protection. Microsoft has alleged that the internet company of exploiting books, music, films and television programs without permission.
In a speech prepared for delivery to the Association of American Publishers, the associate general counsel of Microsoft, Thomas Rubin, has taken the stance that Google’s move into new media markets has come at the expense of publishers of books, videos and software. Thomas Rubin in his speech arguing that companies that create no content of their own, and make money solely on the backs of other people’s content, are raking in billions through advertising revenue.
The charges are made that Google is not excluding copyrighted materials from its scanning project, and the speech argues that the snippets of books it displays on the Web should be considered ‘fair use,’ a principle that allows limited copying of protected works for certain purposes. It further laments that Google takes the position that everything may be freely copied till the copyright owner notifies Google and asks it to stop. While on the other hand Microsoft asks the copyright’s owner for permission at the first place.
In its response, Google has stated that Google the company complies with international copyright laws when it helps users find information from thousands of content providers of every size. It further contended that the result has been more exposure of the material and in many cases this resulted in more revenue for authors, publishers and producers of content.
