Google Book Search - not so free with their jacket images
When, on the April Library 2.0 Gang, Tim Spalding asked Google Product Manager Frances Haugen about the uses of Google data, specifically book jacket images received via their new API, we got the impression that there were no restrictions against using them for display in your OPAC.
As Tim posted last week, things seem to have changed:
A few months ago when the Google Book Search API came out, I was among the first notice that GBS covers could be used to deck-out library catalogs (OPACs) with covers, potentially bypassing other providers, like Amazon and Syndetics. I subsequently promoted the idea loudly on a Talis podcast, where a Google representative ducked licensing questions, giving what seemed like tacit approval.
It seemed so great–free covers for all. Unfortunately, it now seems that it was too good to be true. At a minimum, the whole thing is thrown into confusion.
Tim was contacted by ‘a major cover supplier’ saying that a large percentage of the Google covers were, in fact, licensed to Google by them. They never intended this to be a "back door" to their covers, undermining their core business. - oops!
This coupled with the recent alteration to the Amazon Web Services customer agreement:
5.1.3. You are not permitted to use Amazon Associates Web Service with any Application or for any use that does not have, as its principal purpose, driving traffic to the Amazon Website and driving sales of products and services on the Amazon Website.
… means that those looking for a free source of book jackets will have to look elsewhere?
June 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
[…] tomheath wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIt seemed so great–free covers for all. Unfortunately, it now seems that it was too good to be true. At a minimum, the whole thing is thrown into confusion. Tim was contacted by ‘a major cover supplier’ saying that a large percentage of … […]