Google has patented technology that can selectively restrict access to content based on rights of access and geographical location. It may seem that this is a banal censorship of objectionable websites in certain countries (eg China). However, upon closer examination it becomes clear that the patent belongs to the scandalous initiative Google to scan books.

A patent application entitled "Variable user interfaces based on the rights of access to documents" was filed in 2004 and confirmed on Tuesday this week. The patent describes two basic situations: restricting access to content, or deadlocks. The system automatically evaluates what rights a user and in what country it is, this information relates to copyright in the file, and then decides whether to block content in whole or demonstrate, in part or in full. When incomplete demonstration of content the user may be offered a link where he can buy a license.

In Google expects the new technology will help to better address the problems associated with differences in copyright laws in different countries where the same content in different countries need to handle differently. Access rights to the books will be determined automatically, depending on location. This will help avoid unnecessary lawsuits, such as in France, where the court found a violation of copyright law is that in the United States are not, or in Belgium, which the court banned Google from indexing the local news.

Via ArsTechnica