Activists rally to save Internet Archive as lawsuit threatens site (decrypt.co)

Article summary

The Internet Archive, a non-profit online library, is being sued by four major book publishers for copyright infringement after it removed waitlists for books in its National Emergency Library, allowing multiple readers to download the same digital copy. The lawsuit could potentially bankrupt the organization. The Internet Archive has been preserving and providing access to millions of books, movies, and other digital content. The lawsuit has sparked a debate about copyright laws and their impact on access to knowledge.

Main themes

• copyright laws
• access to knowledge
• Internet Archive
• book publishing
• digital libraries
• preservation of history

What commenters say

• The Internet Archive's actions were a necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of public libraries.
• The Internet Archive's actions constitute copyright infringement and could harm authors and publishers.
• Copyright laws are overly restrictive and prevent access to knowledge that should be in the public domain.
• Abolishing copyright laws would lead to a decrease in the creation of new content.
• The Internet Archive's mission to provide universal access to knowledge is at odds with the interests of copyright holders.
• The cost of backing up the Internet Archive's data is prohibitively expensive, but some commenters suggest it could be done with sufficient funding.
• The destruction of the Internet Archive would be a significant loss for preserving historical records and knowledge.
• The Internet Archive's actions are a form of piracy and disregard for the rights of authors and creators.