DOJ investigates Google's deal with book publishers

The Department of Justice is poking around a deal between Google and at least two book publishers that may have antitrust implications, reports The Wall Street Journal. The DOJ antitrust division has reportedly contacted some publishers seeking information on a deal reached with Google to create its so called Book Rights Registry and to implement Google's plans to scan millions of copyrighted books online, allowing searchers to browse passages and purchase copies.

Google agreed to pay $125 million to create the Book Rights Registry, where authors and publishers may register works and receive compensation from institutional subscriptions of book sales, according to Reuters.

Critics have said that the book search plan would give Google too much power in the young electronic book publishing market and the U.S. District Court is investigating the deal.

When addiing in the fact that Google has plans to create its own Kindle-like device, critics may have a point.

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