RSSGoogle Book Effort Draws French Ire
By David Worthington | Published February 21, 2005, 8:37 PM
The National Library of France is not happy with Google's effort to scan and integrate millions of books into its Web search. Jean-Noel Jeanneney, President of the library, wrote in an editorial that he is concerned Google's initiative to digitalize volumes at five leading libraries will reflect a unipolar worldview dominated by the English language and American culture.
Jeanneney has designed a parallel program as a counterweight against the perceived political and cultural significance of Google's project.
However his words may appear, Jeanneney insists that his remarks were not intended to be anti-American, and went out of his way to commend the short-term effects of Google's work as a "Messianic dream" that would "profit" under-privileged populations.
In the long run, the librarian-in-chief cautioned against the domination of America for generations to come and its potential to skew thought without reflecting the diversity of civilizations.
In the subsequent weeks after the editorial was published, Jeanneney has toned down his statements made in the French media, but remains the leading proponent for mobilizing funding for the digitalization of European libraries. A Google spokesperson told BetaNews that Jeanneney's remarks were a reflection of his fundraising efforts.
Google announced in December that it had partnered with the New York public library and university libraries at Stanford, the University of Michigan, Harvard and Oxford. Collections that are public domain -- without copyrights -- will be among the first to be digitalized and brought online.
A Google spokesperson said the company was surprised by Jeanneney's remarks, noting, "This is a first step for us; we can't do everything at once."
"It is our intention to be as inclusive as possible, respect the diversity of cultures and we will work with any library and are interested in talking to institutions with great works like BNF (Bibliotheque nationale de France)," the spokesperson added. "However, we cannot guarantee that it will spread to France."
BetaNews could not reach Jeanneney for comment by press time.
Rainbow Warrior and Greenpeace upset the frogs. Now this guy is upset. Tough s***. Come into the modern age and stop complaining. Get into it, embrace it............. just don't try to destroy it this time.
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While I don't disagree w/ anyone here so far-- & yes, I'm still incensed some three years later over the incessant meddling, whining & backstabbing... I'm ready to do away with generalizing sic "the Moldoonans are so this, the Pilsheviks are so that"...
possibly in part because this may not be an issue where so many of his compatriots agree w/ that BNF dinosaur, but more importantly:
because there's got to be a better way to address his short-sightedness than by referring to him by his ethnicity-- which tends to smear those unfortunate compatriots unlike him-- though the alternative is even more unpalatable: refer to him by name & make an instant celebrity out of a hack so lacking in common sense-- & as well turn his rants into the de facto collective / national psyche..
Maybe we can place him in proper ridiculing context with an appropriately-derogatory nickname: banane sort of rhymes with his surname..
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So this guy is concerned it's a competition? Then why doesn't he compete? And if he does not want to compete, why doesn't he team up?
Actually, the guy should resign for wasting taxpayers money: How did he not succeed with millions of euros available when 2 guys did 1000 much more in organizing information without state support?
It's not a case of french vs non french here, but of smart people vs lamers.
Also, why put some fences between french and anglo saxon culture when they share so much, starting with english being an offspring of middle french.
In the end, the guy must be right, the move from google is a threat: a threat for suckers, and that's excellent news! Thanks Google.
I am sure they'll be most welcome when they'll do with french books what Mr whiner was not able to do.
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History
Main article: History of the English language
English is descended from the language spoken by the Germanic tribes.
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History
The Roman invasion of Gaul
The French language is a Romance dialect, meaning that it is descended from Latin.
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French and English are not related in any way other than being old languages that have changed a lot over time. Altho now they seem to be "cousins". There aren't many words in french with the letter W, and even less starting with W.
Not bashing at anyone here, I just find this stuff interesting.
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Mind that low amount of money does not count the multimillion dollar(US) worth of personal connections that Google maintains by inheriting the Stanford policy of "exclusionary politics". Why else would they go to Ivy League places, and UofM (as well as their own Stanford)? Surely, they could not have just asked on their own if they didnt have those connections, it would not have been much more than regional in effort. Even if the exact amounts are dissimilar, the BNF would still be narrowly leading instead of clearly losing.
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If he's so concerned about this, why didn't he start first ? "Oh no ! Google is doing things before I ever think of it ! Bad Google, bad !"
Oh yep, and I'm French too. Please, Betanews editors, don't take the easy path and try to avoid confusions like "one French guy/France"
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That's funny, I'm French and I had never heard about this story before I read this news.
It has no more impact in France that the elections in Ouzbekistan.
This editorial is a cry for public money, to do the same thing than google.
Don't be too hard for the clumsy word he puts around this, he's a dumba**.
We've got a lot of dumba**es like him, who go to fancy school, get fancy public job, and don't have a clue how the world work.
We let them write an editorial now and then, that keeps them quiet.
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Well, the French are doing it since at least 1999 ... check it on gallica.bnf.fr ... more than 70000 items in PDF or HTML, free access, reasonable download speed ...
Besides BNF there are lots of other French libraries that have lots of books online. You can find them with google, too :-)
Everybody should be doing this, for every language.
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The company Google is free to do anything she desires!!!...
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**** the french
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As opposed to a worldview dominated by cheese-eating surrender monkeys? I'll take the former...
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Am I the only one who doesn't care what "France" thinks?
Who cares? It's just a web search!
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Who cares what the French think?!
All they know how to do today is complain about how everyone else in the world does things.
If they are so upset about this perhaps they should partener with Google or do thier own version so that they may be heard.
If you don't like how something is being done get off your butt and do something about it.
The French are in the same dangerous situation as the U.N. ... They are quickly becoming known for being all talk and no do.
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I honestly don't know what to say. I think Google does have too much power. I however think the French are being a bit whiney about this.
Who knows....
Technology sucks
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The French desire to preserve their culture is cute, you have to admit. They are putting their foot down on progress and social mores changing. AMusing to watch every time they put up laws and restrictions.
It reminds me much like the religions of the world grasping onto their pathetic claims through the ages.
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Google initiative triggers competition. Its reasons apart, we, the Internet users, can only benefit.
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