Public court records and official statements from the Internet Archive

Second Circuit Rules Against Internet Archive in Hachette Fair Use Case

Sep 4, 2024, 05:32 PM

The Second Circuit Court has affirmed a decision against the non-profit Internet Archive in the case of Hachette Book Group, Inc. et al v. Internet Archive. This ruling concludes a long-running copyright dispute over the Archive's practice of scanning and digitally lending print library books. The plaintiffs, including Hachette Books, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Wiley, argued that the Archive's actions constituted copyright infringement. The court found that the Archive's digital lending did not qualify as fair use. The Internet Archive expressed disappointment with the decision and is reviewing the court's opinion. The ruling has significant implications for cultural heritage and AI training.