Workshop on Google Book Search settlement for writers, NYC Jan 20

Mary Robinette Kowal sez, “The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has partnered with the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Writers Union to create a free workshop on the Google Book Settlement.”

Hear the best-informed, best-known authorities on what the second version of the Google Book Search Settlement would mean for writers if it is approved by the court. The second opt-out deadline is coming up a week after this seminar, so there is still time to figure out what’s best for you, personally, and then to act. This workshop will focus on the settlement and writers — just writers.

Much of the public debate has settled on other aspects, like orphan books, yet we writers are still confused about what the proposed, new Book Rights Registry would mean for us.

Sponsored jointly by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, ASJA, the National Writers Union, NWU, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, SFWA.

FREE but please tell us if you’re coming, either by calling 212-997-0947 or a quick e-mail to asjaoffice AT asja.org. (Put “Google settlement” in the subject line.)

Speakers: Professor James Grimmelmann, who together with a group of his law students has been commenting line-by-line on the legal ramifications of the settlement for many months. The project is called the Public-Interest Book Search Initiative, sponsored by the Institute for Information Law and Policy at New York Law School See it at The Public Index The site has remained steadfastly non-partisan.

Poet, attorney and principal at Writers’ Representatives, LLC: Lynn Chu, who has written about the settlement in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. Chu, a literary agent of many years standing, organized a group of writers who object to the settlement. She currently is at work on a law review article on its ramifications.

I don’t know Chu’s work, but I worked with James at EFF and I think he’s the bee’s knees.

Google Book Settlement Workshop in NYC on Jan. 20th

(Thanks, Mary!)