Whether or not the settlement is ultimately approved by the U.S. courts, Google will open an online e-books store, called Google Editions, by the middle of the year, Dan Clancy, the engineer who directs Google Books, and who will also be in charge of Google Editions, said.

NEWYORKER: Publish or Perish

's HarperCollins Publishers, started Open Road Integrated Media LLC, which focuses on e-books, including authors who are willing to be published digitally before going into print.

WSJ: Digital Self-Publishing Shakes Up Traditional Book Industry

Initially a start-up with no employees and run out of Ms. Friedman's apartment, Open Road now has more than two dozen employees and has published about 2, 000 e-books.

WSJ: Jane Friedman's New York Apartment: A Home That Books Built