Google’s e-book deal could slow rise of Amazon Kindle in Europe

Google announced a major deal this week with French authors and publishers that clears the way for the sale of millions of e-books that have been caught in legal limbo until now.

The deal could spur digital publishing in Europe and also shape which companies gain control of the continent’s fledgling e-book market. Under the terms of the agreement, more than 600 French publishers and a major writers group will drop lawsuits over Google’s decision to scan books without permission and the publishers will begin selling digital versions of the books. The deal will let publishers keep control over which e-books are sold and will require Google to create a list that helps authors keep track of their copyright. This week’s agreement is significant because it coincides with a French law that creates a new royalty collection mechanism for e-books. Taken together, the developments mean that many of the legal obstacles that have halted the rise of e-book sales in France are now cleared. At the same time, the deal could also provide a template for the rest of Europe where e-book sales remain minuscule. In December, France’s former culture minister said the country was a “bridge head” for Google to the rest of the continent. While it’s too early to say when (or if) the French e-book scheme will take off, there does appear to be one early loser in the deal. According to reports in Le Figaro and publishing site ActuaLitté, the agreement does not allow the publishers to distribute the digital books through Google’s direct competitors — read: Amazon.