Court Rules Against Internet Archive's Digital Lending

Overview

• The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that the Internet Archive's digitization and lending of books is not fair use.
• The decision supports publishers' rights to license and be compensated for their works, rejecting the Archive's Controlled Digital Lending theory.
• The ruling could result in significant financial penalties for the Internet Archive, with damages potentially exceeding $19 million.
• Advocates argue this decision harms public access to knowledge and limits privacy-centric alternatives to commercial e-book platforms.
• The Internet Archive is considering further legal options and has launched a public petition to support its cause.