[Missouri-l] Fw: [Nfb-announce] National Federation of the Blind Commends Parties to Google Settlement

[Chip Hailey]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>; <by way of David Andrews 
<dandrews at visi.com>>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:35 PM
Subject: [Nfb-announce] National Federation of the Blind Commends Parties to 
Google Settlement


>
> 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 Commends
>  Parties to Google Settlement
>
>
> Terms of Amended Settlement Agreement
> Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (November 17, 2009): The National Federation of the 
> Blind today commended Google, the Association of American Publishers, and 
> the Authors Guild for retaining important provisions in the amended 
> settlement relating to the Google Books project that will allow people who 
> are blind or have other print disabilities to access the books that Google 
> makes available to the public. The amended settlement between Google and 
> authors and publishers regarding the Google Books project, if approved by 
> the courts, will have a profound and positive impact on the ability of 
> blind people to access the printed word.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: 
> "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the greatest 
> challenges faced by the blind.  The agreement between Google and authors 
> and publishers will revolutionize access to books for blind Americans. 
> With millions of books expected to be available through Google Books, this 
> agreement means that blind people will have more access to print books 
> than we have ever had in human history.  The blind, just like the sighted, 
> will have a world of education, information, and entertainment literally 
> at our fingertips.  The National Federation of the Blind commends the 
> parties to this agreement for their commitment to full and equal access to 
> information by the blind."
>
> "The Google Books project is designed to facilitate broad access to the 
> world's written knowledge," said Allan R. Adler, vice president for legal 
> and government affairs of the Association of American Publishers (AAP). 
> "It is only fitting that the settlement includes provisions that will make 
> these materials available to the blind and others who cannot read print. 
> These provisions certainly reflect the values of the AAP, and we are 
> pleased that this settlement will mean greater availability of books to 
> approximately 30 million Americans who have traditionally experienced 
> barriers to accessing the printed word."
>
> The terms of the amended settlement, like the settlement agreement 
> proposed last year, allow Google to provide the material it offers users 
> "in a manner that accommodates users with print disabilities so that such 
> users have a substantially similar user experience as users without print 
> disabilities."  A user with a print disability under the agreement is one 
> who is "unable to read or use standard printed material due to blindness, 
> visual disability, physical limitations, organic dysfunction, or 
> dyslexia."  Blind people, like other members of the public, will be able 
> to search the texts of books in the Google Books database online, purchase 
> some books in an accessible format, or access accessible books at 
> libraries and other entities that have an institutional subscription to 
> the Google Books database.  Once the court approves the settlement, Google 
> will work to launch these services as quickly as possible.
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> 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.  Please visit our Web site: 
> <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>
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