Paris – France’s culture minister Frederic
Mitterrand has announced plans for the country to launch its own digital book
index to feature the work of French authors. The Gallica service will receive
funding from the French government initially, but will aim to derive revenue
from advertising.
CNET noted that Mitterrand is unhappy with the way Google (NASD: GOOG) has
gone about its dealings with French publishers in the company’s effort to build
a massive digital index of the world’s books.
The company has already struck a
deal with the Library of Leon, and has held talks with France’s
National Library.
"Google came to Europe
as a conqueror, and many (publishers) have opened the door by signing
agreements that I find unacceptable," Mitterrand told Le Monde.
"They
are based on excessive confidentiality, impossible exclusivity, and a casual,
even one-sided approach to copyright."
While
Mitterrand backs the creation of a French digital library, he also still
envisions a partnership with Google, and an exchange of files between the two
indices.
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