Beijing
– Google (NASD: GOOG) has apologized to Chinese authors over its dealings with them in
regard to its massive book-scanning project, the Associated Press reported.
"Following
discussions and communications in recent months, we do believe that our
communication with Chinese writers has not been good enough. Google is ready to
apologize to Chinese writers about this," Erik Hartmann, the head of Google
Books for Asia-Pacific, wrote in a letter to the Chinese Writers’ Association.
One Chinese author named Mian Mian already sued Google in Chinese court over
the inclusion of her work in the digital book index; AP reports that the judge
told the two parties to hold settlement talks.
Google said in its letter that
it will make a complete inventory of all the Chinese works it has scanned to
date, and work with Chinese writers on a settlement proposal, with the aim of
reaching a formal agreement by June.
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(AP)
