Google to Supply 500k Public Domain Books for Sony Reader

Yesterday Google and Sony reached a deal to distribute half a million titles, all published before 1923 and in the public domain, through the Sony Reader at no cost. "We have focused our efforts on offering an open platform and making it easy to find as much content as possible - from our store or others - whether that content is purchased, borrowed or free," said Steve Haber, president of the Digital Reading Business Division at Sony Electronics, in the accompanying release. "Working with Google, we can offer book lovers another avenue for free books while still providing a seamless experience from our store."

The NYT notes in a loaded phrase that Google "is aiming to gradually increase the number of copyright-free books in the Google Book Search catalog available to Sony and any other e-book distributor that shares its goals of making books more accessible." The books that are being supplied to Sony have been converted to ePub, which represents significant support for the standard. The WSJ updates the number of Sony Readers sold worldwide, saying the total is now 400,000.

MobileRead reports the service went live a little before 9 PM yesterday, accessible through the Sony eBook Library software, on the main eBook Store page, over to the right about halfway down, by way of a link reading "Unearth a Classic."

So Google has placed its bet with Sony, instead of the far-better-selling Kindle, eh? Which begs the following questions:

What does Google know about this e-reader duel that the rest of the world doesn't?

Will this give Sony any appreciable boost?

And how long before Google morphs from beloved search engine into a Microsoftian evil empire? Power & popularity aren't natural bedfellows in the tech community, and Google is gaining more power all the time.
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UPDATE ON SIMIC READING: Earlier, Book Choy reported that Charles Simic canceled his appearance at Butler because he was engaged in an armed stand-off with police in Juarez. Apparently, that report was incorrect. Or, at least, unsubstantiated (I still have my suspicions).

Word is that his reading has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 21st. (Thanks, Rob)