Internet Archive's digital book lending violates copyright, US judge rules

A U.S. court ruled that the Internet Archive infringed copyright by scanning and digitally lending books from major publishers without permission. The judge determined that this "controlled digital lending" did not qualify as fair use because the digital copies effectively replaced authorized market licenses, denying creators and publishers their rightful revenue streams. This decision highlights the tension between maximizing public access to information and protecting intellectual property rights in the digital era. By denying the Internet Archive’s broad scanning practices, the ruling reinforces that while physical books can be freely lent, digital replicas require explicit licensing, preserving the economic model that supports authors and publishers. This case is crucial for open data and digital preservation advocates as it defines the legal boundaries of mass digitization. It establishes a precedent that limits how nonprofits can operate digital archives, suggesting that open access initiatives must navigate strict copyright compliance rather than relying on fair use defenses for commercial works.

Source: digbycourier.ca
Published on 2026-10-07

Internet Archive's digital book lending violates copyright, US judge rules

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