National Writers Union

Book Division

Book Authors: Why Join the NWU?

Recent News and Events:

• NWU comments on intellectual property infringement and enforcement
  (submitted to the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, March 23, 2010)


• Google Books settlement fairness hearing, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (New York City, February 18, 2010)
  • NWU Asks Federal Court To Scrap Proposed Google Book Deal
  • Transcript of argument by Prof. Ron Lazebnik, Fordham Univ. Law School, on behalf of the NWU, ASJA, and SFWA (PDF, 42 KB)
  • Complete transcript of fairness hearing (PDF, 398 KB)
  • Summary and analysis of arguments at the hearing by Prof. James Grimmelmann, N.Y. Law School: Part One Part Two
  • Analysis of claims and opt-outs by EFF: Part One Part Two
  • Report on some of the opt-out names, emphasizing those in the UK, from the Guardian
  • What can I do? (a note to fellow writers from Ursula K. Le Guin)


• Writers' arguments against the amended Google Books settlement proposal (filed with the U.S. District Court, January 28, 2010)
  • NWU calls for rejection of the revised Google Books settlement proposal (February 4, 2010)
  • Brief of the NWU, ASJA, and SFWA (brief only, PDF, 235 KB)
  • Writers' brief with supporting exhibits
    (including petition by Ursula K. Le Guin and 367 other authors; PDF, 3.4 MB)


• The Google Book Settlement: What's in it for writers?
  Free public informational events in New York City on Wednesday, Jan. 20, and in Berkeley, CA, on Friday, Jan. 22
  • Podcast audio of New York event (mp3, 124MB)
  • Podcast audio of Berkeley event (mp3, 58MB)
  • Video of New York event and streaming audio of both events
  • Alternate video stream of New York event
  • Why the NWU thinks the proposed Google Books settlement is unfair (Edward Hasbrouck, NWU)
  • Last Chance to Opt Out of Google Book Settlement (Pamela Samuelson)


• NWU FAQ for writers about the revised Google Book Search settlement proposal (also available in PDF format)
• Sample Google Books settlement opt-out letter (MS-Word format; postmark by Jan. 28, 2010)
• Opt-out online (not reliable and no confirmation)
  (The NWU recommends that if you opt out online, you complete the form twice, once as author and once as publisher/self-publisher)
• How to demand that Google stop displaying your work (Digital Millenium Copyright Act infringement notice)


• Letter to Congressional authors from the NWU, ASJA, and SFWA (Jan. 6, 2010)
• Revised Google Deal Still Disses Writers, NWU Says (Nov. 14, 2009)
• NWU Calls on the Authors Guild to Withdraw from the Google Copyright Infringement Settlement (Sept. 25, 2009)
• NWU Files Brief Opposing Google Books Settlement (Sept. 8, 2009) (also available in PDF format)
• NWU brief opposing the original Google Books settlement proposal (Sept. 8, 2009)
• NWU Joins Open Book Alliance (Sept. 4, 2009)
• Open Book Alliance brief opposing original Google Books settlement proposal (Sept. 8, 2009)
• Former Vice President Al Gore Urged by NWU to Help Delay the Proposed Google Book Settlement (Sept. 1, 2009)
• NWU Letter to Al Gore Re: Proposed Google Book Settlement (Sept. 1, 2009)
• NWU Opposes Settlement of Class-Action Lawsuit Against Google for Copyright Infringement (Aug. 13, 2009) (also available in PDF format)


• Petition Concerning the Google Book Settlement initiated by NWU member Ursula K. Le Guin
• NWU member Ursula K. Le Guin's appeal to writers to join the NWU


• Canadian Authors' Petition in Protest of the Google Book Settlement
• Academic Author Objections to the original Google Book Settlement proposal
• Academic Author Objections to the revised Google Book Settlement proposal
• Authors and publishers privacy objections to the Google Book Search Settlement
• Google Books and Writers Rights (by NWU member Edward Hasbrouck)
• Other Objections to the original Google Book Settlement proposal
• Other Objections to the revised Google Book Settlement proposal


• NWU Digital Bill of Rights
• NWU Digital Bill of Rights brochure


• E-Book Contract Amendments: Overview and advice from the NWU (May, 2010)
• Contract advice for NWU members
• Grievance assistance for NWU members


• Book Authors: Why Join the NWU? (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions about the NWU (PDF)
• NWU member Ursula K. Le Guin's appeal to writers to join the NWU
• Quotes from NWU members: "Why I joined the NWU" (PDF)
• NWU membership benefits (PDF)


• Join the NWU:
  • Apply online to join the NWU
  • Downloadable mail-in application form (PDF)