Google Inc. wants to partner with publishers in the United States and United Kingdom to sell online access to their books, the company said on its Web site on Monday.
Google Book Search would allow publishers to set the prices for their books and make them available through a reader's Web browser. Consumers would not be able to save a copy on their computer or copy pages from the book.
"It's a way for publishers to experiment with a new method of earning money from their books in addition to those that already exist," the company said.
Five major publishers sued Google last year seeking to block the company's plans to scan copyrighted works without permission and derail its push to make many of the world's great books searchable online.
Legal experts characterized that dispute as a new front in the battle over digital duplication of media including music, movies and books.
Currently, Google users can view parts of books or entire books if the copyright has expired or a publisher has given permission to do so.
The new service would be open to publishers in the United States and United Kingdom who participate in Google's Partner Program and can prove they have the rights to sell online access to their books, Google said.
Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.
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