Windows Live Book Search: Microsoft adds two more libraries

Microsoft expand its Book Search initiative

Software giants Microsoft have announced that they are expanding their own Book Search program, which is aimed at a similar service provided by Google.

They are now collaborating with University of California Library and the University of Toronto Library and books in these two libraries would now be added to their Windows Live Book Search index.

The program is managed by the Open Content Alliance (OCA), which would scan, digitize and index out-of-copyright books from the libraries for Microsoft. They would also be indexing those copyrighted books whose publishers give them permission to do so. Microsoft had joined this alliance last year when they initially announced the MSN Book Search initiative.

The company has played it safe with this program as they are expanding the database of content slowly and carefully. Google on the other hand has been sued by a couple of publisher networks allegedly for breaking copyright and not taking permission from authors and publishers before digitizing their work.