Cheated Out of Escheats

FIve state attorney generals object to the Google Books settlement, on behalf of their... citizens:

The issue that irks the states is that when the rights holders can't be located, the [nonprofit] Books Rights Registry would keep the proceeds on their behalf while they continue the search for those individuals or groups. Laws in the states objecting to the deal require the state treasurer to be the one who accepts an unclaimed payment on behalf of its citizens, according to a copy of the brief submitted by Missouri's Chris Koster.

Because, you know, that could turn out to be a big pot of money.