Re:Internet Archive responds to publishers’ lawsuit
by SirSourdough on Thursday July 30, 2020 @11:40AM
(#23999433)
During COVID, the IA created an emergency lending program under which they would lend an unlimited number of copies of the books in their library rather than sticking to the 1:1 lending they normally allow. This resulted in a more or less immediate lawsuit from publishers claiming copyright infringement on the basis that the IA had no right to share those titles without restrictions.
Re:Internet Archive responds to publishers’ lawsuit
by misnome on Thursday July 30, 2020 @11:39AM
(#23999422)
As I understand it, they said “there are probably copies out there unused, we are using those”, but had no agreement and only “partnered” later, after the announcement, as a post-hoc justification.
Re:Internet Archive responds to publishers’ lawsuit
by preinheimer on Thursday July 30, 2020 @11:35AM
(#23999374)
I think under normal circumstances there's some sort of 1:1 physical copy to loaned one.
But under the "emergency library" they loaned out as many books as were requested.
Re:Internet Archive responds to publishers’ lawsuit
by ghaff on Thursday July 30, 2020 @11:43AM
(#23999473)
There was some handwaving around all the physical books locked up in libraries that the IA took it upon themselves to virtually "borrow" but there were no actual partnerships AFAIK.
(And, honestly, why stop at libraries? There's actually very little special about libraries from a copyright law perspective. There's absolutely nothing to keep me from putting a set of bookshelves in front of my house and do an honor system book lending or take a book/leave a book thing.)
I thought they partnered with library systems to only lend out 1:1 physical copies that weren't on publicly accessible shelves? If so, that definitely seems like it should be kosher.
But it's possible I am completely misinformed here.
Agreed that completely uncontrolled digital lending is literally just piracy. If advocates want that, they need to reform copyright law if for no other reason than so that publishers and authors know the rules of the game they're playing...