Theft of Intellectual Property: Why Readers Should Care


Here is some news shred from Science Fiction Writers of America that should be of concern especially to writers but also to readers. When books are stolen, writers lose income, and that makes it less possible for them to continue writing -- and THAT should be of concern to readers. Readers can help: Do not read purloined books. Find the publisher and acquire a legitimate copy.


 HOW TO USE A PANDEMIC TO LEGITIMIZE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT


The Internet Archive's Open Library Project--a huge repository of scanned print books available for borrowing in various formats--justifies its existence with a novel (and disputed) legal theory called Controlled Digital Lending, which it claims allows it to create new digital editions of in-copyright books without seeking owners' permission. 

In March, as the coronavirus pandemic was taking off across the world, the IA abandoned one of the key provisions of CDL to create the National Emergency Library--basically, the Open Library with restrictions on borrowing removed--in order to address what it described as "unprecedented global and immediate need for access to reading and research materials" (never mind that such materials are already widely available for borrowing online via local, state, and university libraries). Publishers and authors' groups responded with outcry, accusing the IA of "using a global crisis to advance a copyright ideology that violates current federal law and hurts most authors" and ultimately initiating a lawsuit. 

Copyright Violation Redux: The Internet Archive's National Emergency Library  Controlled Digital Lending, what it is and why this theory--and its practice--is harmful to writers.



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