John
09-08-2009, 07:29 AM
A deadline in the US for arguments supporting and opposing a settlement in which the internet giant will team up with US authors and publishers to create an online library of out-of-print books passes at 3pm BST on Tuesday.
An alliance motivated to block the move includes Google rivals Microsoft and Yahoo.
Both are likely to spell out their objections in documents submitted.
They could lodge separate appeals alongside the class action, as did internet retailer Amazon.com last week.
Under a 10-month old settlement, Google would act as a sales agent for groups representing authors and publishers.
The deal has raised fears that Google could emerge as the ringleader of a literary cartel that would have too much power in determining the price of digital books.
These concerns have resulted in the US Justice Department opening an inquiry over whether the agreements violates laws regarding predatory pricing.
It has until September 18 to file its findings.
All other interested parties were due to have supplied their arguments by Friday.
An alliance motivated to block the move includes Google rivals Microsoft and Yahoo.
Both are likely to spell out their objections in documents submitted.
They could lodge separate appeals alongside the class action, as did internet retailer Amazon.com last week.
Under a 10-month old settlement, Google would act as a sales agent for groups representing authors and publishers.
The deal has raised fears that Google could emerge as the ringleader of a literary cartel that would have too much power in determining the price of digital books.
These concerns have resulted in the US Justice Department opening an inquiry over whether the agreements violates laws regarding predatory pricing.
It has until September 18 to file its findings.
All other interested parties were due to have supplied their arguments by Friday.