Chinese authors urge Google to honor commitments
Chinese authors urge Google to honor commitments
16:40, March 22, 2010 
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Chinese authors hope that Google can fulfill its commitment to submit the settlement proposal regarding scanning the works of Chinese writers without permission before the end of March, said Yang Chengzhi, secretary of the secretariat under the Chinese Writers Association (CWA), on March 21.
The CWA accused Google of copyright infringement Nov. 18, 2009, and one month later, Google submitted a list of some 80,000 books (including more than 8,000 books written by 2,600 members of the CWA) which the company had scanned and included in its digital library without the permission from Chinese authors. On Jan. 9, 2010, Google officially apologized to Chinese authors, brought forward a timetable for the settlement proposal and promised that it would further the negotiation with the Chinese Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS) to work out the settlement proposal and framework of the final agreement by the end of March.
Yang said that the CWA expects Google to respond to the copyright infringement circular as scheduled and hopes that Google can seriously fulfill its promise and put forth a proposal satisfying Chinese writers as soon as possible.
On Jan. 12, 2010, Google abruptly postponed the fourth round of negotiations with the CWWCS that was scheduled on the afternoon of that day. After over two months, there is still no information on when the negotiations will resume. The CWA has frequently received inquiries from writers asking if Google will fulfill its promise to put forth a proposal by the end of March and if the company respects the lawful rights and interests of Chinese writers.
Yang added that the CWA hopes that Google can seriously promises made in the official text forwarded to the CWA on Jan. 9. On that day Google swore that it would put forth a solution as well as a rough plan for relevant negotiations by the end of March and seek to reach consensus on legal and operating details before signing a formal agreement.
By People's Daily Online
The CWA accused Google of copyright infringement Nov. 18, 2009, and one month later, Google submitted a list of some 80,000 books (including more than 8,000 books written by 2,600 members of the CWA) which the company had scanned and included in its digital library without the permission from Chinese authors. On Jan. 9, 2010, Google officially apologized to Chinese authors, brought forward a timetable for the settlement proposal and promised that it would further the negotiation with the Chinese Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS) to work out the settlement proposal and framework of the final agreement by the end of March.
Yang said that the CWA expects Google to respond to the copyright infringement circular as scheduled and hopes that Google can seriously fulfill its promise and put forth a proposal satisfying Chinese writers as soon as possible.
On Jan. 12, 2010, Google abruptly postponed the fourth round of negotiations with the CWWCS that was scheduled on the afternoon of that day. After over two months, there is still no information on when the negotiations will resume. The CWA has frequently received inquiries from writers asking if Google will fulfill its promise to put forth a proposal by the end of March and if the company respects the lawful rights and interests of Chinese writers.
Yang added that the CWA hopes that Google can seriously promises made in the official text forwarded to the CWA on Jan. 9. On that day Google swore that it would put forth a solution as well as a rough plan for relevant negotiations by the end of March and seek to reach consensus on legal and operating details before signing a formal agreement.
By People's Daily Online
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