It’s an open debate whether the plan to scan millions of books and
make them searchable online will prove the benefit to humanity that
Google promises – or hand it a monopoly over certain digital works, as
opponents allege.

But the consensus is the company fomented an avoidable backlash by
forging ahead with its controversial plan without consulting the
parties with the most at stake. Authors and publishers responded with
lawsuits alleging copyright infringement.

Google “had the power to do it and so thought ‘why not?’ ” Enderle
said. “That’s the core of how a company goes from being seen as
friendly to being seen as evil.” —SF Gate