Writing in the New York Times, Mr Brin said he wanted to “dispel some myths” surrounding the project.

He said the plan would make millions of “out-of-print” books available to the public online.

Those against the idea fear it would give Google a monopoly over access to the world’s information.

“In reality, nothing in this agreement precludes any other company or organisation from pursuing their own similar effort,” he wrote.

“The agreement limits consumer choice in out-of-print books about as much as it limits consumer choice in unicorns.

“Today, if you want to access a typical out-of-print book, you have only one choice — fly to one of a handful of leading libraries in the country and hope to find it in the stacks.”

Whilst he admitted in the short term Google would effectively dominate the market, he said ultimately other projects would benefit from the firm’s work.

“If Google Books is successful, others lesbian pantyhose will follow,” he wrote.

“They will have an easier path: this agreement creates a books Lisa Lower rights registry that will encourage rights holders to come forward and will provide a convenient way for other projects to obtain permissions.

“While new projects will not immediately have the same rights to Pantyhose Legs orphan works, the agreement will be a beacon of compromise in case of a similar lawsuit.”

He also argued that the firm was safeguarding the world’s cultural heritage.

“The famous library at nylon feet Alexandria burned three times, in 48 BC, AD 273 and AD 640, as did the Library of Congress, where a fire in 1851 Pantyhose Feet destroyed two-thirds of the collection,” he wrote.

“I hope such destruction never happens again, but history would suggest otherwise.”
At the moment it is not known how he died,” a police spokesman said. “There are no signs of suspicious circumstances.”

A post mortem will take place in the city of Palma, according to the BBC’s Steve Kingstone in Majorca.

“Unofficially, police sources have indicated that there was no suicide note or signs of a struggle,” he said.

Music journalist Paul Gambaccini said it was “sad on a personal level and a professional level”.

“The period of success for Boyzone was historic,” he said. “They were, in the 90s, the best selling boy band in singles terms. That’s right, they sold more singles than Take That.”

The last message on Gately’s Twitter account, posted on 6 October, said: “Still busy – lots going on. Focussing on finishing my book next so may be quiet here.