French publisher Groupe de La Martiniere says Google is “counterfeiting” and breaching IP rights by scanning some 100 books and is filing suit in Paris for damages of 100,000 euros (roughly $128,000) per title. The company owns Le Seuil (France), Delachaux and Niestle (Switzerland), and Harry N Abrams (U.S.). Yann Colin, an attorney for the company, told the BBC the penalty needs to be that large to be effective: “That means that if Google breaches a ban… imposed by the court at the end of the proceedings, it would cost Google very dear to carry on.”
That’s a big “if” considering the case isn’t even close to being heard but worth keeping tabs on.