Google has issued a statement on its the public policy page of its website concerning the so-called orphaned books issue in the forthcoming settlement hearings this coming fall.

“As ‘parent’ rightsholders claim their books through the Book Rights Registry, we think it will become clear that most out-of-print books are not actually ‘orphans.’ Books that were once difficult for anyone to license will become books that are very easy for everyone to license, either through the Book Rights Registry or directly from their owners. Furthermore, many books that some think are in-copyright orphans (including a large percentage from 1963 or before) are actually out-of-copyright, and Google is working to make more information available that can clarify their copyright status.

“The settlement will also make it far easier for anyone — including Google’s competitors — to license the use of most out-of-print books. As authors and rightsholders claim their books under the settlement, information about what books have been claimed and who claimed them will be made publicly available, allowing others to take advantage of this information. What’s more, the settlement creates an independent, not-for-profit Book Rights Registry run by authors and publishers that will be able to license other services on behalf of rightsholders who want it to do so.”

Every author with a backlist should bone up on all sides of the question as the debate intensifies over the summer. Google’s statement is a good place to start.

For the complete text of their statement click here.

RC