[Ecommerce] Proposal for European Digital Library

[Manon Ress]

Leaders propose creation of European digital library
PARIS (AP) - Six European leaders jointly proposed Thursday that
literary works contained in European libraries be made accessible online
in what they called a ``European digital library.''

The appeal to European Union officials was signed by French President
Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Italian Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Hungarian Prime
Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.

``The heritage of European libraries is unequaled in richness and
diversity,'' they said in their letter. ``But if it is not digitalized
and made accessible online, this heritage could, tomorrow, not fill its
just place in the future geography of knowledge.''

The leaders noted that many libraries are already digitally scanning
works but said the efforts should be coordinated in one online network.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/11514102.htm

More in French:
http://www.reuters.fr/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=techNews&localeKey=fr_FR&storyID=8330418
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/multimedia/20050429.OBS5437.html

France has already spent 15 millions euros per year for digitization of
works (films, books, newspapers).  There's been some technical problems
but the most complex are legal issues.  Since some works are not in the
public domain, the rights owners have to agree etc. Whatever you have to
do to compete with Google and its 15 million works from 7 libraries
(some will be available next fall).

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Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@cptech.org,
www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC PO Box 19367,
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