As widely expected Judge Denny Chin has acceded to the request of the plaintiffs in the Google Book Settlement case and agreed to put back the date for the Fairness Hearing scheduled for October 7th. However, in its place, Judge Denny Chin will instead preside over what is now being declared as a ‘status conference’ on the same date.

Judge Chin said his decision to pursue the status conference were ‘to determine how to proceed with the case as expeditiously as possible, as the case has now been pending for four years.’

It is hard to say if the Fairness Hearing will actually ever see the light of day. In effect, the Google Book Settlement has now been sent back to the drawing board.