The United States Justice Department is urging a court in New York to reject a controversial agreement between internet search engine Google and authors and publishers. On 7 October, a US district court will hold a hearing on a class action settlement between Google, which is proposing the deal, and the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers.

The agreement would allow Google the right to scan millions of books online. Google has agreed to pay 125 million dollars to resolve existing claims and establish a 'books rights registry'. Google says it wants to disseminate books that are no longer in print.

The Justice Department says the court should encourage the parties to modify the existing deal "so as to comply with copyright and antitrust laws". Microsoft, Amazon, Yahoo, the French and German governments and consumer advocacy groups also oppose the deal. Critics say Google is establishing a worldwide monopoly without adequate compensation for authors and publishers.