The American Society of Media Photographers in conjunction with other artists and illustrators presented on Wednesday in Manhattan Federal Court, a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company is digitizing and displaying their work online without permission.

Three years ago a group of authors, publishers and professional organizations in the area of publications filed a class action account Google Books. It was decided that the company would pay the value of $ 125 million and would create a catalog where authors could register, allowing the program to use some of the publications are protected by copyright if they were already out of circulation.

However, visual artists were not included in this class action, which led them to create a new, demanding that Google is liable for this failure.

According to Reuters, Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker said via email that the company is confident that Google Books is fully compatible with international law of copyright.

Reuters also says the action received this week said the violation of copyright law for visual reproduction without authorization makes it more difficult for the artists to sell their art, resulting in lost profits and damage to reputation.

The U.S. Justice Department says the best solution for it is an agreement as previously done, but still needs to study how the complaint is framed specifically in the laws of copyright.

Via: Mashable.