Google Book Scanning

Google has apologized to thousands of Chinese authors after the writers said the search giant scanned their work for inclusion in its book-search project without their permission. But it remains unclear how -- if at all -- Google plans to actually change its book-scanning practices.

Let's pretend Susan Author wrote a book about chess cheaters, "The Bad Check," in 1973. You need it to finish your thesis. However, the book is out of print, still under copyright, and it will take weeks to get your hands on a copy. Your problem could be worth millions to Google, if the courts...