Though Google has won a number of victories in court recently supporting their claim of fair use over text captured and shared by Google Books and other related enterprises, the company has remained potentially more vulnerable to separate copyright infringement claims brought against Google Books by photographers and visual. (As far back as 2012 Google’s attorneys told the court they were in some kind of settlement discussions with those groups.) On Friday afternoon — when companies love to avoid attention — Google announced they had agreed to settle a 2010 lawsuit brought by a diverse group of photographers, visual artists […]
Legal
People, Etc.
Will Atkinson will join Atlantic Books as managing director and publisher on October 1. Previously he was sales and marketing director at Faber, where he spent the past 20 years. Atlantic chairman Peter Roche said in the announcement “At Faber, [Atkinson] has demonstrated an unrelenting enthusiasm for independent publishing tempered with an unparalleled zeal for negotiating the best deal. I’ve admired Will’s work for many years and believe he is the perfect person to head up Atlantic Books. Rowan Cope will join Simon & Schuster UK as editorial director on October 13. Previously she was a senior editor at Little, […]
Judge Cote Gives Preliminary Approval To Apple Settlement With States & Consumers
Despite reservations expressed earlier in a teleconference, Judge Cote gave preliminary approval to Apple’s settlement with the states and consumer class, which would see the company pay anywhere from $450 million if Apple’s appeal is denied to nothing if the appeal is completely reversed. The judge did find it “most troubling” that if the appeal is reversed and remanded to her court Apple would pay only $50 million. But in the 9-page order, Judge Cote said the plaintiffs “emphasize that they ‘strongly believe’ that the Remand Scenario is unlikely to occur,” with class counsel Steve Berman asserting this belief further in a July 30 letter. […]
People, PEN Awards, Etc.
Marcie Lawrence has joined Little, Brown Books for Young Readers as designer. She is a recent graduate from the School of Visual Arts MFA Design program, and was previously at Wenner Media. In addition, Maggie Edkins has been promoted to assistant designer. Susan Peterson has joined CodeManta as svp, sales. Most recently she was president of Blackwell Book Services, North America, prior to which she was svp of digital business at Baker & Taylor. Author, journalist, and NYC correspondent for National Public Radio Margot Adler died in New York City on July 28. DRAWING DOWN THE MOON was her well-known work […]
Judge Cote Unconvinced By Aspects of Apple Settlement Proposal
In a teleconference call with lawyers for Apple, the plaintiff states, and the consumer class, Judge Denise Cote “expressed concern” with the proposed settlement before her that would see Apple pay anywhere from nothing (if they win their appeal of Cote’s July 2013 ruling in favor of the Department of Justice) to $450 million (if Apple loses.) Reuters reports Judge Cote found the middle scenario, which would have Apple pay $70 million should the appeals court reverse her finding in part and send it back for further proceedings, “most troubling” and thought it “might be unfair to consumers by undervaluing their claims.” […]
Jesse Ventura Defamation Trial Highlights Editorial & Marketing of AMERICAN SNIPER
Last Friday both sides in the defamation trial brought by former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura against the estate of Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL and author of AMERICAN SNIPER. At issue was an account in the book headlined “Punching Out Scruff Face” that described — though not by name — a 2006 bar fight purportedly between Ventura and Kyle, that Ventura believed harmed his reputation and helped boosted sales of AMERICAN SNIPER. Co-author Jim De Felice, William Morrow executive editor Peter Hubbard, and director of media relations Sharyn Rosenblum all testified for the defense, claiming by consensus, according to the […]