National Writers Union Joins Open Book Alliance

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Writers Union
announced today that it has joined the Open Book Alliance: a diverse coalition
of writers' organizations, librarians, activists, legal scholars and
corporations who object to the proposed Google Book Settlement.

"We are happy to join the Open Book Alliance, which shares many of our
concerns about the proposed Google Book Settlement," said Larry Goldbetter,
president of the National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981. "The proposed
settlement is patently unfair to writers and could set a dangerous legal
precedent."

Earlier this week, the National Writers Union called on former Vice President
Al Gore, in his capacity as a senior advisor to Google, to use his
considerable influence to urge Google to seek a delay in the settlement
proceedings. The National Writers Union announced its objection to the
proposed Google Book Settlement last month.

"Google's book scanning project is one the largest cases of copyright
infringement since the United States Constitution was adopted in 1789,"
Goldbetter said. "The multibillion-dollar corporation scanned more than seven
million different books without permission from the copyright owners. In an
attempt to placate its victims, Google is throwing some crumbs to writers."
Google enjoyed a net income of more than $4.5 billion last year. It is
offering writers as little as $60 per infringed book and $15 per infringed
article.

"It's a bad deal," Goldbetter said. "Along with the other members of the Open
Book Alliance, the National Writers Union wants to promote a fair alternative
to the proposed settlement."

The National Writers Union is the nation's only labor union and advocacy
organization for freelance writers in all genres, media, and formats. In
addition to print media writers, NWU represents electronic writers and editors
of blogs, Web sites and e-newsletters. The NWU is affiliated with the United
Auto Workers (UAW), which is a member of the AFL-CIO. The NWU's headquarters
are at 113 University Place, 6th floor, New York, NY 10003.

SOURCE National Writers Union

Larry Goldbetter, +1-212-254-0279 x14, +1-773-551-7021 (cell),
Larryg601@gmail.com, or Paul J. MacArthur, +1-315-733-5185,
nwujwriter@yahoo.com, both of National Writers Union