Vol. 15 No. 1 (2024)
Articles

Hachette v. Internet Archive

Italian PDF
  • Fabio Mercanti
Fabio Mercanti
Sapienza università di Roma
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jlis.it-576

Published 2023-12-10

Keywords

  • Hachette v. Internet Archive,
  • Controlled digital lending,
  • Open library,
  • Digital lending.

How to Cite

Mercanti, Fabio. 2023. “Hachette V. Internet Archive”. JLIS.It 15 (1):86-108. https://doi.org/10.36253/jlis.it-576.

Copyright (c) 2023 Fabio Mercanti

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

In June 2020, some major publishers - Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, Penguin Random House - sued the Internet Archive for copyright infringement. The case is about the activity of the Open Library and of the National Emergency Library managed by Internet Archive. These offered digitisation and lend of printed books owned by the libraries, some of which were protected by copyright. This activity was carried out on the basis of Controlled Digital Lending, a theory not provided by US copyright law. In its March 2023 ruling, the Court agreed with the plaintiffs. In the first part of the article, the activities of the Open Library and the National Emergency Library are briefly reconstructed and the development of the litigation is put into context. The second part is dedicated to Controlled Digital Lending: the implementation process is defined, the position of its theorists is explored and the legal framework on which it is based, is reconstructed. The third part presents the main reasons for the prosecution and the Court's decision. Finally, some reflections are proposed.

Italian PDF

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Albanese, Andrew. 2011a. “At ALA Midwinter, Brewster Kahle, Librarians Ponder The E-book Future.” Publishers Weekly, 10 January. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/45730-at-ala-midwinter-brewster-kahle-librarians-ponder-the-e-book-future.html.
  2. Albanese, Andrew. 2011b. “Brewster's Millions: ALA Preview 2011.” Publishers weekly, 30 May. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/47448-brewster-s-millions-ala-preview-2011.html.
  3. Albanese, Andrew. 2014. “Second Circuit Upholds HathiTrust Verdict.” Publishers weekly, 10 June. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/62820-second-circuit-upholds-hathitrust-verdict.html.
  4. Albanese, Andrew. 2020a. “U.S. Senator Thom Tillis Questions the Internet Archive's 'National Emergency Library'.” Publishers weekly, 8 April. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/82988-u-s-senator-thom-tillis-questions-the-internet-archive-s-national-emergency-library.html.
  5. Albanese, Andrew. 2020b. “Internet Archive Responds to Senator’s Concern Over National Emergency Library.” Publishers weekly, 14 April. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/83027-internet-archive-responds-to-senator-s-concern-over-national-emergency-library.html.
  6. Albanese, Andrew. 2020c. “Internet Archive to End 'National Emergency Library' Initiative.” Publishers weekly, 12 June. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/83584-internet-archive-to-end-national-emergency-library-initiative.html.
  7. Albanese, Andrew. 2020d. “Internet Archive to Publishers: Drop ‘Needless’ Copyright Lawsuit and Work with Us.” Publishers weekly, 23 July. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/83929-internet-archive-to-publishers-drop-needless-copyright-lawsuit-and-work-with-us.html.
  8. Albanese, Andrew. 2021. “Internet Archive Seeking 10 Years of Publisher Sales Data for Its Fair Use Defense.” Publishers weekly, 9 August. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/87104-internet-archive-seeking-10-years-of-publisher-sales-data-for-its-fair-use-defense.html.
  9. Alter, Alexandra. 2020. “‘Emergency’ Online Library Draws Ire of Some Authors.” The New York Times, 30 March. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/books/internet-archive-emergency-library.html.
  10. American Library Association. 2020. Executive Board recommends closing libraries to public, 17 March. https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/03/ala-executive-board-recommends-closing-libraries-public.
  11. Appeal on Controlled Digital Lending (CDL). 2019. https://nwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CDL-Appeal-15AUG2019-v104.pdf.
  12. AAP (Association of American Publishers). 2019. Statement on Flawed Theory of “Controlled Digital Lending”, 4 February. https://publishers.org/news/statement-on-flawed-theory-of-controlled-digital-lending/.
  13. AAP (Association of American Publishers). 2020a. Comment from AAP President and CEO Maria Pallante on the Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library, 27 Marc. https://publishers.org/news/comment-from-aap-president-and-ceo-maria-pallante-on-the-internet-archives-national-emergency-library/.
  14. AAP (Association of American Publishers). 2020b. Publishers File Suit Against Internet Archive for Systematic Mass Scanning and Distribution of Literary Works: Ask Court to Enjoin and Deter Willful Infringement, 1 June, https://publishers.org/news/publishers-file-suit-against-internet-archive-for-systematic-mass-scanning-and-distribution-of-literary-works/.
  15. AAP (Association of American Publishers). 2023a. Publishers and Internet Archive Submit Negotiated Judgment with Permanent Injunction to District Court in Hachette Book Group, et al, v. Internet Archive. Proposal Follows Decisive Ruling on IA’s Infringing Activities, 11 August. https://publishers.org/news/publishers-and-internet-archive-submit-negotiated-judgment-with-permanent-injunction-to-district-court-in-hachette-book-group-et-al-v-internet-archive/.
  16. AAP (Association of American Publishers). 2023b. Reflections from the Association of American Publishers on Hachette Book Group v. Internet Archive: An Affirmation of Publishing, 31 March. https://publishers.org/reflections-from-the-association-of-american-publishers-on-hachette-book-group-v-internet-archive-an-affirmation-of-publishing.
  17. Australian Society of Authors. 2019. Open Library: copyright infringement, 21 January. https://www.asauthors.org/news/open-library-copyright-infringement.
  18. Authors Alliance. 2018. Authors Alliance supports controlled digital lending by libraries, 28 September. https://www.authorsalliance.org/2018/09/28/authors-alliance-supports-controlled-digital-lending-by-libraries.
  19. Authors Guild. 2018. An Update on Open Library, 18 January. https://authorsguild.org/news/update-open-library/.
  20. Authors Guild. 2019. Controlled Digital Lending Is Neither Controlled nor Legal, 9 January. https://authorsguild.org/news/controlled-digital-lending-is-neither-controlled-nor-legal/.
  21. Authors Guild. 2020a. Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library Harms Authors, 27 March. https://authorsguild.org/news/internet-archives-uncontrolled-digital-lending/.
  22. Authors Guild. 2020b. Authors Guild Affirms Support for Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Internet Archive Brought by Four Leading Book Publishers, 1 June. https://authorsguild.org/news/authors-guild-affirms-support-for-copyright-infringement-lawsuit-against-internet-archive-brought-by-four-leading-book-publishers/.
  23. Belanger Ashley. 2023. “Internet Archive’s legal woes mount as record labels sue for $400M.” Ars technical, 15 August. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/record-labels-sue-internet-archive-for-digitizing-obsolete-vintage-records/
  24. Board, Brandon, e Karl Stutzman. 2020. “Controlled Digital Lending: An E-book Solution When There Is No E-book?.” Atla Summary of Proceedings, 74. https://doi.org/10.31046/proceedings.2020.1857. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31046/proceedings.2020.1857
  25. Courtney, Kyle K., e David Hansen. 2018. White Paper On Controlled Digital Lending Of Library Books. https://controlleddigitallending.org/whitepaper/.
  26. Courtney, Kyle K Lila Bailey, David Hansen, Mary Minow, Jason Schultz, e Michelle Wu. 2018. Position Statement On Controlled Digital Lending By Libraries. https://controlleddigitallending.org/statement/.
  27. Courtney, Kyle K. 2020a. “COVID-19, Copyright, & Library Superpowers.” 11 March. https://kylecourtney.com/2020/03/11/covid-19-copyright-library-superpowers-part-i/ (parte I), https://kylecourtney.com/2020/03/16/covid-19-copyright-and-library-superpowers-part-ii/ (parte II).
  28. Courtney, Kyle K. 2020b. “Libraries Do Not Need Permission To Lend Books: Fair Use, First Sale, and the Fallacy of Licensing Culture.” 18 March. https://kylecourtney.com/2020/05/18/libraries-do-not-need-permission-fair-use-first-sale-and-the-fallacy-of-permission-culture/.
  29. De Castell, Christina, Joshua Dickison, Trish Mau, Mark Swartz, Robert Tiessen, Amanda Wakaruk, e Christina Winter. 2022. “Controlled Digital Lending of Library Books in Canada.” The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 17 (2). https://doi.org/10.21083/partnership.v17i2.7100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21083/partnership.v17i2.7100
  30. Del Vecchio, Francesco. 2023. “È iniziato il processo contro la più grande biblioteca di internet.” Wired, 24 marzo. https://www.wired.it/article/internet-archive-processo-diritto-autore-libri.
  31. De Robbio, Antonella. 2012, “Il copyright non è per sempre. Il Caso HathiTrust.” Il Bo live, 17 ottobre. https://ilbolive.unipd.it/it/content/il-copyright-non-e-sempre-il-caso-hathitrust.
  32. Dewey, Caitlin. 2013. “Amazon patents resale marketplace for used e-books, songs and other digital goods.” The Washington Post, 6 February. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/amazon-patents-resale-marketplace-for-used-e-books-songs-and-other-digital-goods/2013/02/06/22f7d12e-70a0-11e2-a050-b83a7b35c4b5_story.html.
  33. Enis, Matt. 2019. “Better World Libraries, Internet Archive Partner, Acquires Better World Books.” Library Journal. 2 December. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/better-world-libraries-internet-archive-partner-acquires-better-world-books.
  34. European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations; Expert Group on Information Law. 2022. First European Overview on E-lending in Public Libraries. Αn interim report prepared by EBLIDA EGIL: Country profiles and Summary Tables, The Hague. http://www.eblida.org/News/2022/first-european-overview-elending-public-libraries.pdf. (trad. ita. “Prima panoramica europea sul prestito digitale nelle biblioteche pubbliche.” 2022. AIB Studi, 62 (3): 667-677. https://doi.org/10.2426/aibstudi-13789, trad. non integrale).
  35. European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations; Expert Group on Information Law. 2023. Handbook of Comparative E-Lending Policies in European Public Libraries, The Hague. http://www.eblida.org/news/press-release-handbook-on-comparative-e-lending-policies-in-europe.htm.
  36. Freeland, Chris. 2019. “For the Love of Literacy–Better World Books and the Internet Archive Unite to Preserve Millions of Books.” Internet Archive Blogs. 6 November. https://blog.archive.org/2019/11/06/for-the-love-of-literacy-better-world-books-and-the-internet-archive-unite-to-preserve-millions-of-books/.
  37. Freeland, Chris. 2020a. “Announcing a National Emergency Library to Provide Digitized Books to Students and the Public.” Internet Archive Blogs. 24 March. https://blog.archive.org/2020/03/24/announcing-a-national-emergency-library-to-provide-digitized-books-to-students-and-the-public/.
  38. Freeland, Chris. 2020b. “Internet Archive responds: Why we released the National Emergency Library.” Internet Archive Blogs. 30 March. https://blog.archive.org/2020/03/30/internet-archive-responds-why-we-released-the-national-emergency-library/.
  39. Freeland, Chris. 2020c. “Impacts of the temporary National Emergency Library and controlled digital lending.” Internet Archive Blogs. 11 June. https://blog.archive.org/2020/06/11/impacts-of-the-temporary-national-emergency-library.
  40. Freeland, Chris. 2020d. “More Impacts of the National Emergency Library.” Internet Archive Blogs. 22 June. https://blog.archive.org/2020/06/22/more-impacts-of-the-national-emergency-library.
  41. Freeland, Chris. 2020e. “Even More Impacts of the National Emergency Library and Controlled Digital Lending.” Internet Archive Blogs. 10 August. https://blog.archive.org/2020/08/10/even-more-impacts-of-the-national-emergency-library-and-controlled-digital-lending.
  42. Freeland, Chris. 2023a. “The Fight Continues.” Internet Archive Blogs. 25 March. https://blog.archive.org/2023/03/25/the-fight-continues.
  43. Freeland, Chris. 2023b. “Our Fight is Far From Over.” Internet Archive Blogs. 11 August. https://blog.archive.org/2023/08/11/our-fight-is-far-from-over/.
  44. Freeland, Chris. 2023c. “What the Hachette v. Internet Archive Decision Means for Our Library.” Internet Archive Blogs. 17 August. https://blog.archive.org/2023/08/17/what-the-hachette-v-internet-archive-decision-means-for-our-library/.
  45. Freeland, Chris. 2023d, “Internet Archive Files Appeal in Publishers’ Lawsuit Against Libraries.” 11 September. https://blog.archive.org/2023/09/11/internet-archive-files-appeal-in-publishers-lawsuit-against-libraries/.
  46. Harris, Elizabeth A. 2020. “Publishers Sue Internet Archive Over Free E-Books.” The New York Times. 1 June. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/books/internet-archive-emergency-library-coronavirus.html.
  47. IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). 2012. IFLA E-Lending Back-
  48. ground Paper. https://www.ifla.org/news/ifla-releases-background-paper-on-e-lending/.
  49. IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). 2021. IFLA Statement on Controlled Digital Lending, 2 June. https://repository.ifla.org/handle/123456789/1835.
  50. Kahle, Brewster. 2020a. “Internet Archive Staff and Covid-19: Work-at-Home for Most, Full-Pay Furlough & Medical for Scanners.” Internet Archive Blogs. 25 March. https://blog.archive.org/2020/03/25/internet-archive-staff-and-covid-19-work-at-home-for-most-full-pay-furlough-with-medical-for-scanners.
  51. Kahle, Brewster. 2020b. “Temporary National Emergency Library to close 2 weeks early, returning to traditional controlled digital lending.” Internet Archive Blogs. 10 June. https://blog.archive.org/2020/06/10/temporary-national-emergency-library-to-close-2-weeks-early-returning-to-traditional-controlled-digital-lending/.
  52. Lepore, Jill. 2020. “The National Emergency Library Is a Gift to Readers Everywhere.” The New Yorker. 26 March. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-national-emergency-library-is-a-gift-to-readers-everywhere.
  53. Mercanti, Fabio. 2022. Prestito digitale. Roma: Associazione italiana biblioteche.
  54. Mercanti, Fabio. 2023. “Controlled digital lending e digital lending: un confronto sulla lettura digitale tramite le biblioteche.” AIB studi. 62 (2):279-295.
  55. https://doi.org/10.2426/aibstudi-13903.
  56. Milliot, Jim. 2020. “Publishers Sue the Internet Archive for Copyright Infringement.” Publishers weekly. 1 June. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/83472-publishers-charge-the-internet-archive-with-copyright-infringement.html.
  57. Mount, Dan. 2014. A Review of Public Library E-Lending Models, Civic Agenda European Unit.
  58. Mount, Dan. 2016. Research for CULT committee. E-lending: challenges and opportunities, Brussels: European parliament.
  59. National Writers Union. 2019. NWU denounces “Controlled Digital Lending.” 13 February. https://nwu.org/nwu-denounces-cdl/.
  60. Pang, Xuan. 2022. “Controlled digital lending: Past emergency implementation led to future exploration.” Journal of Access Services. 19 (4). https://doi.org/10.1080/15367967.2023.2170803. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15367967.2023.2170803
  61. Pohl, Adrian. 2012. “Building the Ecology of Libraries: An Interview with Brewster Kahle.” Open Knowledge Foundation. 23 March. https://blog.okfn.org/2012/03/23/building-the-ecology-of-libraries-an-interview-with-brewster-kahle.
  62. Roncaglia, Gino. 2010. La quarta rivoluzione. Sei lezioni sul futuro del libro. Roma-Bari: Laterza.
  63. Roncaglia, Gino. 2015. “L’e-lending bibliotecario: alcune note introduttive.” Biblioteche oggi, 33: 5-7.
  64. Rosen, Judith. 2012. “ReDigi Plans to Sell Used E-books.” Publishers weekly. 27 July. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/53334-redigi-plans-to-sell-used-e-books.html.
  65. Rosen, Judith. 2013. “Sale of Used E-books Getting Closer.” Publishers weekly. 16 February. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/56004-sale-of-used-e-books-getting-closer.html.
  66. Schard, Robin. 2021. “Hachette Book Group v. Internet Archive: Is There a Better Way to Restore Balance in Copyright?.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 24 (1-2): 53-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10875301.2021.1875100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10875301.2021.1875100
  67. Schwabach, Aaron. 2021. “The Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library: is there an emergency fair use superpower?.” Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual, 18 (2): 187-216. https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njtip/vol18/iss2/3.
  68. Sisto Michelle, 2022. “Publishing and library e-lending: an analysis of the decade before Covid-19.” Publishing research quarterly, 38 (2): 405-422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-022-09880-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-022-09880-7
  69. Society of Authors. 2019. Help us tackle e-book piracy!. 18 January. https://www.societyofauthors.org/News/News/2019/Help-us-tackle-e-book-piracy.
  70. Tondelli, Cal R. 2021. “Mass Digitization and the Consumer Book Market of the Future.” Loyola Consumer Law Review, 33 (2): 420-440. https://lawecommons.luc.edu/lclr/vol33/iss2/8.
  71. Wohlsen, Marcus. 2013. Amazon Wants to Get Into the Used E-Book Business-Or Bury It. 8 February. https://www.wired.com/2013/02/amazon-used-e-book-patent.
  72. Wu, Michelle. 2011. “Building a Collaborative Digital Collection: A Necessary Evolution in Libraries.” Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 699: 527-551. https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/699.
  73. Wu, Michelle. 2017. “Piece by Piece Review of Digitize-and-Lend Projects Through the Lens of Copyright and Fair Use.” Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/1974. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0270319X.2017.1359059
  74. Wu, Michelle. 2019. “Revisiting Controlled Digital Lending Post-ReDigi.” Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works, 24 (5). https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v24i5.9644