‘Wholesale Theft’: Labels Sue Internet Group for Copyright Infringement Over Digitized Vinyl Records

Major music labels are suing the Internet Archive over its Great 78 Project, alleging that digitizing and distributing pre-1972 vinyl records constitutes blatant copyright infringement. The labels argue that the project operates as an unauthorized digital store, depriving rights holders and artists of compensation, and contend that preservation is an insufficient justification since the recordings are not at risk of physical loss and are available on commercial streaming platforms. The Internet Archive defends the initiative as essential for historical preservation and academic research, distinguishing its mission from commercial streaming services. Founder Brewster Kahle asserts that while listeners may prefer Spotify for convenience, researchers require access to original sound recordings in their unmodified state. The organization views the project as a critical library service that complements, rather than conflicts with, modern commercial distribution. This legal conflict is highly relevant to open data because it challenges the boundaries of fair use in digital archiving, particularly regarding legacy formats previously outside federal copyright scope. The outcome will determine whether institutions can legally preserve and provide open access to culturally significant media without commercial licensing. It highlights the ongoing tension between restrictive copyright enforcement and the open data principle that knowledge and history should remain freely accessible for education and research.

Source: billboard.com
Published on 2023-08-15

Open Data

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