Re:Brewster Kahle and the Internet Archive still working to ...
by shkkmo on Saturday March 26, 2022 @12:40PM
(#30813316)
That issue isn't nearly as straight forwards as you are trying to present it.
> First, many bookstores were still open online and they were desparate for orders to stay in business.
Bookstores were not an option for all the people who lost their job during the pandemic.
> Second, many libraries were also operating, albeit under COVID rules.
And many libraries were closed, leaving people with no access to affordable reading material.
> They tried to give away digital books still under copyright when the pandemic began.
This doesn't seem accurate at all. The IA expanded their existing lending program and removed wait limits, they didn't start "giving away books".
The ongoing efforts to hobble libraries abilities to lend eBooks is a significant factor in this.
While I will buy that this expanded lending program broke the crappy copyright laws we are stuck with, I whole heartedly support this IA decision.
If these industry associations didn't have their head so far up their ass, they would have realized what a wonderful opportunity the pandemic was to boost book readership and their overall market, rather than trying to sue the IA because they want to ring every last penny out of the crisis.
> First, many bookstores were still open online and they were desparate for orders to stay in business.
Bookstores were not an option for all the people who lost their job during the pandemic.
> Second, many libraries were also operating, albeit under COVID rules.
And many libraries were closed, leaving people with no access to affordable reading material.
> They tried to give away digital books still under copyright when the pandemic began.
This doesn't seem accurate at all. The IA expanded their existing lending program and removed wait limits, they didn't start "giving away books".
The ongoing efforts to hobble libraries abilities to lend eBooks is a significant factor in this.
While I will buy that this expanded lending program broke the crappy copyright laws we are stuck with, I whole heartedly support this IA decision.
If these industry associations didn't have their head so far up their ass, they would have realized what a wonderful opportunity the pandemic was to boost book readership and their overall market, rather than trying to sue the IA because they want to ring every last penny out of the crisis.