Amazon rejects Google search info request

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 26 Oct 2006 at 10:30

Amazon has rejected a request from Google for details about its book search feature. Google says it needs the information in order to fight lawsuits from several major publishers who claim that Google's own book search breaches their copyright.

The e-retailer described the request as 'overly broad and unduly burdensome', noting that Google's 6 October subpoena effectively demanded full details of Amazon's book sale business, not merely its search feature.

'Google can not show any substantial need to obtain Amazon's proprietary information,' Amazon's lawyers wrote in court filing.

Google claims that the information will only be used to fight the copyright suits and not for any commercial gain.