Who Needs Google?

by Calvin Reid, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 8/22/2006

Looking to exploit publisher skepticism over Google's book scanning programs, the developer of the technology behind HarperCollins' newly launched Browse-Inside program is now offering the service broadly to all book publishers. The LibreDigital Warehouse is a service developed by the Texas-based firm LibreDigital that allows publishers to offer their catalogs and titles to online consumers for browsing while maintaining control over the display and access to content.

Launched earlier this month ("HC Launches Online Browse Option," PW Daily, Aug. 3), Harper's Browse-Inside service is similar to Amazon's Search Inside service. Craig Miller, general manager of LibreDigital, said the company began working with Harper to address publisher concerns about control of their copyrights once their content goes online. "We saw the discussion going on between Google and publishers," said Miller. In addition to Harper, Miller said the firm is in negotiations with other New York trade houses to use the LibreDigital Warehouse service on their own websites.

Miller claimed the LDW gives publishers control over both the quality of digitization and the display of content using flexible DRM that gives the reader "a perfect representation of the book." Miller elaborated: "It's like the bookstore browsing experience, but allows secure management of online content and distribution." LibreDigital (Libredigital.com) is a division NewStand Inc, a company offering digital access to a wide range of national print publications. The company is also an Application Service Provider, according to Miller, which means it can deliver LDW technology to publishers over a network, simplifying the implementation of the browsing technology for publisher-clients. "By working with us," Miller said, "publishers can assert control of their copyrights online."

This article originally appeared in the August 22, 2006 issue of PW Daily. For more information about PW Daily, including a sample and subscription information, click here »

« Back | Print