The American Society of Journalists and Authors has issued a statement announcing its plans to file a submission with the court. Interestingly, while the press release’s headline declares that the ASJA “Joins Groundswell of Opposition to Google Book Settlement,” the actual statement is more muted:
The freelance writers’ group is not asking the court to scrap the entire settlement document. Rather, it will ask the court to direct changes in specific sections.
Issues they’ll raise include representation on the Registry board, protections for reader privacy and against censorship, and the removal of deadlines for opting out. I’ll have more detailed commentary when their actual filing itself becomes available.