French minister wants EU to challenge Google in digital library

EU ministers agreed in Brussels on Friday to create a committee of "wise men" to carve out a plan, Mitterrand said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche due to be published on Saturday.

Mitterrand argues that the digitization of books should not be left to private companies, and governments had to come up with appropriate policies.

Google's plan to set up a digital library has received praises and criticisms from various quarters of society. The plan has been applauded for bringing broad access to books but has also been criticized on antitrust, copyright and privacy grounds.

The internet firm has also recently reached a settlement deal with the U.S. Authors Guild for posting literary works online.

"For my part, there isn't any anti-Americanism. Nevertheless, I believe America isn't a monolith, and different opinions must be expressed. That's why I don't want the State to surrender before the markets," he said.

"It's not up to this or that private group to decide policy on an issue as important as the digitization of our global heritage. I'm not going to leave this decision up to simple laissez-faire," he added.

 Recently, French publishers have accused Google of exploiting their country's literary heritage and in September asked a Paris court to fine the world search leader if it continues to digitize their books. The tribunal expects to reach a decision by December 18.