Internet Archive loses appeal, 500,000 books offline

Books Offline

The Internet Archive, a digital library that lends books for free online, has lost its appeal in a lawsuit brought by book publishers. This means over 500,000 books will no longer be available for public access through the Internet Archive’s Free Digital Library. The Free Digital Library loans about 70,000 books daily, totaling 25 million books a year to 5.9 million users worldwide.

The books are not typical e-books but scanned copies of physical books owned by the Archive or related contributors. The legal dispute involves over 3.2 million digital copies of copyrighted books. While it is legal to loan physical books, copying and distributing digital versions of copyrighted works is typically illegal.

The lawsuit focused on whether the Free Digital Library’s practice fell under “Fair Use,” which permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions. The court considered whether the Internet Archive’s actions were “transformative,” meaning whether they created something new that was different from the original work.

Internet Archive scales back access

The Internet Archive argued that converting books to electronic files was transformative because it made the books accessible to a wider audience. However, the court ruled that simply converting a book to an electronic format did not significantly alter the original content. The judges expressed concern that allowing the Internet Archive to continue its practice would undermine copyright protection, affecting the financial incentives for authors and publishers.

Without these incentives, the production of new works could diminish. Some authors and scholars supported the Internet Archive’s mission, arguing that copyright laws were intended to enhance the spread of knowledge. While financial incentives encourage the creation of new works, they also restrict the availability of existing ones, particularly when the works are no longer economically beneficial.

This case points to a larger issue with current copyright terms, which have been extended multiple times and now often last around a century. These extended terms can prevent older works from becoming publicly accessible, even if they are no longer available for sale or generating revenue for the original creators. The court’s decision upholds the current standards of copyright protection, but it also highlights the ongoing debate about finding a balance between incentivizing new creations and making existing works widely accessible for the greater good of societal knowledge.

Feeling stuck in self-doubt?

Stop trying to fix yourself and start embracing who you are. Join the free 7-day self-discovery challenge and learn how to transform negative emotions into personal growth.

Join Free Now

Picture of Adam Campbell

Adam Campbell

The IT mastermind with a passion for data and a flair for blogging brilliance. When he's not conquering tech conundrums as an IT manager, you'll find him surfing the waves of big data, decoding the secrets of technology, and serving up witty insights with a side of code humor on his blog.

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

People who have no close family to rely on usually display these 8 behaviors (without realizing it)

People who have no close family to rely on usually display these 8 behaviors (without realizing it)

Global English Editing

People who become less patient as they get older often exhibit these 9 behaviors (without realizing it)

People who become less patient as they get older often exhibit these 9 behaviors (without realizing it)

Global English Editing

If you’ve been through these experiences, you’re far more resilient and stronger than the average person

If you’ve been through these experiences, you’re far more resilient and stronger than the average person

Personal Branding Blog

If sleeping with the TV on gives you comfort, you probably display these behaviors (according to psychology)

If sleeping with the TV on gives you comfort, you probably display these behaviors (according to psychology)

The Blog Herald

8 things people with high self-worth never explain to others, according to psychology

8 things people with high self-worth never explain to others, according to psychology

Global English Editing

People who stay young looking in their 60s and beyond usually adopt these simple habits

People who stay young looking in their 60s and beyond usually adopt these simple habits

Small Business Bonfire