Over 300 Musicians Oppose $621M Lawsuit Against Internet Archive

Artists argue the lawsuit threatens cultural preservation and call for industry reforms to better support musicians.

The Internet Archive faces a $621 million lawsuit from major record labels over its Great 78 Project, which digitizes and preserves rare 78 rpm recordings.
More than 300 musicians, including Tegan and Sara, Kathleen Hanna, and Amanda Palmer, have signed an open letter opposing the lawsuit, organized by advocacy group Fight for the Future.
The musicians argue the lawsuit prioritizes corporate profits over cultural preservation and the well-being of artists, calling for alternative ways to support working musicians.
The Great 78 Project has preserved over 400,000 recordings, including works by legacy artists like Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald, for research and public access.
The lawsuit highlights broader tensions between digital preservation efforts and copyright holders, with potential consequences for the future of cultural archiving.