After the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended that a federal judge reject the Google Books settlement last week, the plaintiffs (a class that includes the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers) has filed a motion to delay the “fairness hearing” scheduled for October 7, 2009.
Ever since federal judge Denny Chin gave preliminary approval to the settlement last November, the fate of Google’s massive database of scanned book titles has been tied up in court. In the filing, the plaintiffs wrote that both sides wish “to work with the DOJ to the fullest extent possible”– a period of negotiation that would delay the settlement process even more.
Here’s more from the filing: “Approximately 400 objections, briefs of amici curiae, and statements, both in support of and in opposition to the Settlement Agreement, have been filed with the court…Because the parties, after consultation with the DOJ, have determined that the settlement agreement that was approved preliminarily in November 2008 will be amended, plaintiffs respectfully submit that the fairness hearing should not be held, as scheduled, on October 7.” (Via Kat Meyer)