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

A U.S. court ruled that the Internet Archive infringed copyright by lending digitized copies of books from major publishers, rejecting the organization’s claim of fair use. The judge determined that scanning and digitally distributing these works lacked the necessary transformation to qualify for exemption, as they effectively replaced authorized licenses held by traditional libraries. This decision highlights the tension between preserving information access and respecting intellectual property rights in the digital era. By denying the "controlled digital lending" model, the ruling asserts that while physical books can be lent, bulk scanning and digital sharing do not automatically fall under fair use protections, impacting how nonprofits operate their digital collections. For open data and digital preservation, this case sets a critical precedent regarding the legality of large-scale digitization efforts. It underscores that automated mass copying without explicit permission poses significant legal risks, challenging institutions that aim to provide universal access to copyrighted materials through digital platforms. The outcome influences future strategies for balancing copyright compliance with open knowledge initiatives.

Source: digbycourier.ca
Published on 2026-10-15

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

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