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Microsoft Plans Its Own October 26, 2005; Page B14 Microsoft Corp. is diving into the business of offering online searches of books and other writings and says its approach aims to avoid the legal tussles met by rival Google Inc. The Redmond, Wash., software company said yesterday that it will sidestep hot-button copyright issues for now by initially focusing mainly on books, academic materials and other publications that are in the public domain. Microsoft plans to initially work with an industry organization called the Open Content Alliance to let users search about 150,000 pieces of published material. A test version of the product is promised for next year. The alliance is working to make books and other offline content available online without raising the ire of publishers and authors. Danielle Tiedt, a general manager of search content acquisition with Microsoft's MSN online unit, said the company also is working with publishers and libraries on ways to eventually make more copyright material available for online searches. |