New Zealand authors and publishers have been excluded from a revised version of an agreement covering the free provision of books online.
The original Google Books Settlement allowed the internet search provider to digitise and post books from all over the world, unless authors and publishers specifically opted out.
A new deal was struck on Saturday, after authors and publishers argued the settlement as it stood would breach copyright laws outside the United States.
Now only the US, Canada, Britain and Australia are covered.
Google Books says it's disappointing New Zealand is no longer included, although individual authors will be able to opt in.
Writer Lynley Hood says Google must now reveal which New Zealand books have been digitised without permission and remove them from its database.
