Internet Archive

The Internet Archive's Digital Lending Dreams: Grounded! 📚🚫

The Internet Archive's hopes for online lending just got shut down by a court! Find out what this means for readers and libraries everywhere!

In a watershed moment for digital libraries, the Internet Archive has lost its court appeal regarding its practice of controlled digital lending. This decision reaffirms that scanning and lending physical books without the explicit permission of copyright holders is considered copyright infringement. Libraries across the United States temporarily closed their doors during the pandemic, leading to an increased reliance on digital formats and, unfortunately, raising several legal eyebrows in the process. The Internet Archive aimed to provide access to countless books that now, due to this ruling, are effectively barred from public access.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Internet Archive, stating that their "Controlled Digital Lending" program did not qualify as fair use as they had argued. This ruling has significant implications—not just for the Internet Archive, but for numerous other digital lending libraries and their users. By asserting strict copyright controls, the court has potentially narrowed the possibilities for libraries to provide free access to literature, particularly during times of crisis.

Authors and publishers have celebrated this victory, viewing it as a win for intellectual property rights in the digital age. While the Internet Archive's intentions were to democratize access to literature during a global crisis, the court's decision underscores the ongoing tension between digital accessibility and copyright law. This case serves as a critical reminder of the challenges that organizations face as they aim to balance public access with the rights of content creators.

As a consequence of the ruling, the Internet Archive will have to remove over 500,000 scanned titles from public access, a major blow to readers hoping for a more accessible future in literature. Surprisingly, the Internet Archive was founded back in 1996 with a mission to provide 'Universal Access to All Knowledge.' It's fascinating how that noble goal can be challenged by something as mundane as the copyright wordplay!