October 29, 2008 9:30 AM

$125 Million Settlement Paves Way for Google's Book Project

Posted by Zach Lowe

As reported late Tuesday in the Recorder, Google has agreed to pay $125 million to authors and publishers to settle copyright litigation surrounding its online books database.

Experts told the Recorder the deal is favorable for Google, who can go ahead with the database  as long as it sets aside 63 percent of revenue for authors, publishers and other copyright owners.

About one-third of the settlement -- $45 million -- will go to publishers and authors whose works Google posted without permission. About $30 million will go to plaintiffs attorneys at Pennsylvania-based Boni & Zack, who represented the authors. (Debevoise & Plimpton represented the publishers, and a firm spokesman said they are not receiving part of the $30 million). Google relied on in-house counsel and their regular outside advisors at Keker & Van Nest and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to craft the settlement.

Google initially hired Kilpatrick Stockton as litigation counsel but switched to Wilson Sonsini once it became clear the case would settle, the Recorder says.

 

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