Microsoft and Google complain about copyright

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL [proprietor Rupert Murdoch] said Google and Microsoft, through a "trade association", are moaning about book publishers and others claiming copyright that transgresses "fair use". They will moan officially to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today, it seems.

The gist of the argument of the "Computer and Communications Industry Association" is that book publishers, film firms and "sports leagues" are crossing a line in the sand by "materially misrepresenting US copyright law".

So-called "fair use" should apply, reckons this trade association, and American firms should not preface their offerings by referring to sections 107 or 108 of the US copyright act.

So what is "fair use"? No one appears to know. But the Journal reckons these sections allow USian publishers to get stuff decked off the net sharpish. The "association" is moaning about the NFL, Reed Elsevier subsidiary Harcourt Inc, and a number of other publishers.

Apparently the FTC is awaiting the complaint with some interest. µ

L'INQ
Wall Street Sun - sub needed