Microsoft surrenders libraries to Google

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Microsoft is calling it quits on plans to scan libraries and make contents available online.

It looks like the idea will not be able to turn a dollar, however it might help humanity preserve its knowledge and understanding.

Writing in his blog, Satya Nadella, senior vice president of Microsoft's search and advertising group said Microsoft would kill off two sites for searching the contents of books and academic journals.

Live Search will send Web surfers looking for books to non-Microsoft sites.

Instead, Microsoft will be focusing on "verticals with high commercial intent".

Microsoft has been scanning books since 2005 and has been giving information to the Open Content Alliance.

It will give publishers copies of the 750,000 books and 80 million journal articles it has scanned in.

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