Federal judge delays Google case pending appeal

NEW YORK — A federal appeals judge in New York has agreed to delay a court challenge to Google Inc.’s plans to create the world’s largest digital library while the court considers whether authors should receive class status.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued a one-page order Monday. The case is stalled while the court considers an appeal by Google.

U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin had granted class status this year. The Mountain View, Calif.-based Google asked to delay all proceedings pending its appeal.

Chin previously said a delay could last a year or more.

Google already has scanned more than 20 million books for the project. The Authors Guild has said it is impractical and expensive for each author to sue Google over similar claims.