Judge rules online archive's book service violated copyright

The "Internet Archive" service, founded in 1996, is a non-profit project aimed at establishing a sort of online library, with the intention of offering permanent access to historical collections to researchers and experts. Unlike standard library systems, this archive obtains items and texts through donations and direct purchases.

In early 2023, the service was sued by four publishing houses for having scanned and published millions of copyrighted works within the archive, then offering them free to the public.

The Internet Archive justified itself, arguing that its actions were protected by fair use laws, emphasizing once more its mission: to make knowledge and education widely available.