Google Inc. was sued by photographers, illustrators and other visual artists who claim the web search company is scanning and displaying their work online without paying them.

The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court by the American Society of Media Photographers and others who were not permitted to join a $125 million class-action settlement over digitised books, which is pending in the same court.

The new lawsuit also seeks class-action status on behalf of photographers and illustrators whose works are contained in books covered by the earlier settlement.

"Google is exploiting the plaintiffs' copyrighted professional work without authorisation or compensation," said James McGuire, a partner at the law firm Mishcon de Reya New York LLP, in an interview. "We are seeking very substantial damages on behalf of tens of thousands of artists."

In an email, Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker said: "We are confident that Google Books is fully compliant with international copyright law."

US District Judge Denny Chin is overseeing both lawsuits. He has not decided whether to approve the $125 million accord.

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