I haven't posted anything in the long slog over the Google Books deal since last November. People do still send me pointers, which I appreciate, but I just haven't found any of them interesting enough. This story on CNET (by Elinor Mills) caught my eye, given that this is the new Cartel-owned DOJ we're talking about here.

They appear to be standing behind the Bush-era filings from last September opposing key parts of the settlement between Google and the Authors Guild/Association of America Publishers, and in opposition to the modified agreement filed last November (see in-depth analysis at those links above). The next step seems to be all sides waiting for the judge in the case to read the DOJ's filings along with the other supporting and opposed commentary and amicus briefs - after which presumably the settlement will be approved or sent back for further negotiation. My money is on the latter - we're far from done with this one.