Several rivals, publishers and authors filed last-minute complaints against Google's revised digital books deal, claiming that the plan to digitise and sell millions of books online violated antitrust laws.

A US district court judge has given technology company Google until 9 November to present an amended settlement with authors and publishers of its controversial plan to create an online library of out-of-copyright books.

Google says it will grant online booksellers the right to sell its digital library of out-of-print and "abandoned" books, should a US court approve a settlement agreement allowing Google to scan and publish them online.

Critics of a settlement agreement between US technology company Google and a group of publishing organisations spoke out today at a hearing at the European Commission, saying that the agreement would create a cartel among publishers and give Google monopoly power over some out-of-print books.