The suit, filed by publishing group Martiniere, claimed Google, which has scanned and digitalized 10 million books, exploited their material by posting extracts of the books without permission, The New York Times reported Friday.
Google, which said it would appeal the ruling, was also ordered to pay $430,000 in restitution.
Philippe Colombet, who oversees the company's book partnerships in France, said, "we believe that displaying a limited number of short extracts … complies with copyright legislation both in France and the United States."
In France, sentiment against Google's Book Search program runs particularly deep among those who feel the Google could profit from the country's literary heritage.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to accelerate expansion of the government's digital library.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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