Controversy over Project Gutenberg 2

David Rothman writes in TeleRead of a new web venture called Project Gutenberg 2, offering access to ebooks in Adobe format on a paid membership basis. Some Gutenberg volunteers are concerned about the use of the PG name in such a context. “Over the weekend a Project Gutenberg volunteer list was buzzing with all kinds of questions for PG founder Michael Hart, who personally owns the Project Gutenberg trademark.” For Rothman and others, the news raises questions about PG’s ongoing commitment to the ideals of free distribution and nonproprietary formats.