[Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Rejection of Google Books Settlement

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org



National Federation of the Blind Comments
on Rejection of Google Books Settlement



Baltimore, Maryland (March 22, 2011): Dr. Marc Maurer, President of 
the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation 
of the Blind supports access by the blind to the vast amount of 
knowledge contained in the millions of books available throughout the 
world, and we believe that the Google Books settlement is one way to 
achieve that access.  For that reason, we are disappointed that the 
court has rejected the settlement.  We will analyze the decision 
carefully and then determine our future course."



On September 10, 2009, the National Federation of the Blind 
<http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=466>testified before the 
House Judiciary Committee that the proposed settlement between Google 
and authors and publishers regarding the Google Books project should 
be approved.  The Google Books settlement would have made millions of 
titles available to the blind and other Americans with print 
disabilities, providing more access to the printed word than the 
blind have had in all of human history.





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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading 
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's 
blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in 
the United States for the blind led by the blind.