Google's marked change in their settlement policy appears to imply a change of heart or a change of leadership, however it also falls in line with a trend of new media companies who look at litigation as an entre toward a settlement of definite terms.
AFP-Google settlement leaves open questions
While the two companies avoided going to trial, they also avoided tackling some thorny legal issues about fair use
By Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service
April 06, 2007
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/04/06/HNafpgooglequestions_1.html
