Microsoft To Offer Online Book Search

Microsoft has announced their plans to offer online searches of books and other writings. The software giant plans to take a different approach than rival Google, whose attempt to index millions of copyright books from the Harvard, Stanford and Michigan university libraries has resulted in legal issues.

Microsoft plans to initially focus on public domain books, academic materials and other publications, thus avoiding the copyright issues. The company will work with Open Content Alliance, an industry organization which includes Yahoo among its participants. Microsoft plans to release a test version next year in which users will be allowed to search some 150,000 pieces of published material. They are also working with publishers and libraries in order to make more copyright material available in the future, possibly by charging users for content.

Google’s approach to offer online book search has been a vastly different one. They plan to index millions of copyright books unless otherwise notified by the copyright holder. Their attempt has been met with lawsuits by both The Association of American Publishers and The Authors Guild.