PRESS CONFERENCE
Shojiro Akashi, Writer, Journalist and TV Director,
Fumiaki Fukuda, Photographer

The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.

Two Japanese journalists are prepared to join a class action suit against Google Inc., saying the search giant has been scanning and digitizing books published prior to Jan. 5, 2009, without the consent of the authors or publishers. The pair, along with other potential plaintiffs outside the United States, have until Sept. 4 to opt out or object to a proposed class-action settlement.

Akashi and Fukuda have filed complaints with the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo against Google's parent firm and its Japan office for alleged infringement of their copyrights. They say the Tokyo police have also launched an investigation into the case. Akashi has written books about Japan's nuclear power industry and other hot topics, while his book on the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai in Myanmar is due out soon. Fukuda is best known for a series of exclusive photos, including those of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in court during the Lockheed payoffs scandal, and he has chronicled the episode in his book, "Kakuei Tanaka Stakeout Diary."

Fumiaki Fukuda, Photographer

Shojiro Akashi, Writer, Journalist and TV Director