Scarecrow - 12:37 am on May 27, 2005 (gmt 0)

Google required the libraries to sign nondisclosure agreements. This means that important details of these agreements are still secret. Such details could reveal Google's intentions about monetization of their investment. For example, if the University of Michigan decided, after getting their copies of Google's files for millions of books, to make a donation of the whole pile to Yahoo, would they, under the agreement, have the freedom to do this?

Of the four U.S. libraries involved, only the University of Michigan, as far as I know, is affected by a state freedom of information requirement. They have a freedom of information office [umich.edu]. Anyone can send an email request. I expect it will be denied because of the confidentiality agreement, but then you can appeal to the UM president. At least it will encourage discussion of the issues.