But they aren&#x27;t just indexing the book. They are copying it completely. Then using that copy to provide a commercial service to people that reinforces the Google brand.<p>In a similar way, I could _borrow_ books from the library, take them home and digitise them, then return the library book while retaining the digital _copy_. I&#x27;m pretty sure this is not allowed under copyright law.<p>However, if I go one step further, commercialising my collection of digitised books by providing them online to everyone in the world in a searchable format - but removing every few pages - that somehow makes the original copyright infringement legal?...<p>Does Google Books provide a useful service? I think Yes.<p>Do they infringe copyright to do it? I think Yes.<p>How could they not infringe copyright?<p>I suggest if they bought every book that they digitise, they would then have the right to index those books so that they could offer their fair use service to people. Optionally, publishing houses and authors could opt-in to the system by providing them with a free book or a waiver.