Music labels sue Internet Archive over digitized record collection

Major record labels are suing the Internet Archive for copyright infringement, arguing that its streaming of digitized vintage recordings operates as an illegal store rather than a library. This legal action highlights the ongoing tension between preserving cultural heritage and protecting commercial intellectual property rights in the digital age. The lawsuit emphasizes that since these audio works are readily available through authorized streaming services, they face no risk of being lost or destroyed. Consequently, the labels argue that unrestricted public access constitutes unauthorized distribution, potentially seeking hundreds of millions in damages for the alleged misuse of thousands of protected sound recordings. This case is critically relevant to open data and open access initiatives because it challenges the operational model of digital archives. If non-profit institutions cannot freely digitize and provide universal access to historical media, it may severely restrict the availability of open cultural resources and impede future research and educational use of publicly accessible knowledge.

Source: asiaone.com
Published on 2023-08-13

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