TO ALL AUTHORS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP ON
“URSULA’S LIST“ IN
OPPOSITION TO THE GOOGLE SETTLEMENT
(or who are thinking about doing so):
I intend to submit a petition or letter of concern to the
judge of the United States court that will meet February 18, 2010, to consider the
Google Settlement.
It will briefly state our reasons for opposing the
Settlement and point out how it injures the interests of writers by making — as
the Director of the U.S.Copyright Office has said — “an end-run around
copyright.” It will ask the court to prevent Google or any corporation from
circumventing copyright law or dictating the terms on which authors may use and
profit from their works.
This is not a lawsuit or anything like it. It commits you
to nothing but the expression of opinion in a letter to a court of law. I’m
getting expert help from people at NWU in formulating the letter carefully and
effectively.
If you don’t wish to have your name on this letter, PLEASE
INFORM ME AT ONCE. I’ll take your name off the list of signatories. (I can
keep it on the original “Ursula’s list” if you like.)
The petition letter must be submitted by January 28th,
so please act SOON — either to take your name off the list of signatories to
the letter, or to sign up on the list.
I wish I could answer all of the great letters I’ve been
getting from people signing up — but it’s just me, and I’m swamped. Thank
you all for writing — thank you for standing up with me.
— Ursula
Please comment at Book View Cafe blog, “Le Guin on the Google Settlement” or email UKL. Writers who wish to sign the letter, please specify whether your email address may be included, and please include your website URL.
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