Major book publishers defeat Internet Archive appeal over digital scanning

A U.S. appeals court has ruled in favor of four major book publishers against the Internet Archive, which was accused of illegally scanning and distributing copyrighted books without permission. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the Internet Archive's actions did not qualify as "fair use," as the nonprofit's large-scale copying and lending of entire books undermined the original works. The publishers, including Hachette, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random House, claimed that the archive's practices harmed their business and the authors' incentives to create new works. The court's decision emphasized that the archive's free access to books could negatively impact the public by reducing the motivation for consumers and libraries to purchase books. The Internet Archive had previously expanded its lending capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic but reverted to its original limits after the lawsuit was filed. The ruling is seen as a significant victory for authors and publishers, reinforcing their role in the literary ecosystem. The Internet Archive plans to review the court's opinion and continue advocating for libraries' rights to lend and preserve books.

- The U.S. appeals court ruled against the Internet Archive in a copyright infringement case.

- The court found that the archive's actions did not constitute "fair use."

- Publishers argued that free access to books harms their business and authors' incentives.

- The ruling is viewed as a victory for authors and publishers.

- The Internet Archive intends to review the decision and defend library rights.