Internet Archive's Legal Battle with Publishers Threatens Free Digital Library

Four major book publishers, Hatchette Book Group, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins Publishers, have filed a lawsuit against Internet Archive for alleged copyright infringement. The publishers claim that Internet Archive's free digital library, which expanded during the pandemic, hurts writers and publishers who lose out on payment. The lawsuit argues that Internet Archive's actions "constitute willful digital piracy on an industrial scale." The case could be a landmark when it comes to digital libraries and copyright, with the fair use doctrine being called into question.