Copyright Infringement — The Top Publishers Sue

Copyright Infringement

Publishers Sue Internet Archive For ‘Mass Copyright Infringement’ — this article by NPR should sound an alarm bell for authors.

The controversy stems from the creation of a “National Emergency Library” by the Internet Archive (IA). While a National Emergency Library may sound charitable during a COVID-19 pandemic…  it may very well involve piracy and allegedly infringed works. This affects authors as well as publishers.

According to a lawsuit filed by John Wiley & Sons, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins and Penguin Random House (and I quote):

“Its goal of creating digital copies of books and providing them to whomever wants to download them reflects a profound misunderstanding of the costs of creating books, a profound lack of respect for the many contributors involved in the publication process, and a profound disregard of the boundaries and balance of core copyright principles,” the publishers argued.

IA does not seek to ‘free knowledge’; it seeks to destroy the carefully calibrated ecosystem that makes books possible in the first place — and to undermine the copyright law that stands in its way.

Other Copyright Infringement Cases

See my recent blog posts and read up on other copyright issues in the news:

New Concerns About Copyright Law

Copyright in the News

Articles on Intellectual Property Snafus

Some may wonder that the difference is between copyright and intellectual property. According to Vethan Law Firm, trademarks, patents, industrial designs and copyright are forms of intellectual property.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), intellectual property:

“…refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.”

And yes, there are plenty of intellectual property lawsuits on record. For fun, check out more in the ever-present, ever-growing world of intellectual property issues.

Ten Famous Intellectual Property Disputes (Smithsonian)

5 interesting intellectual property lawsuits worth noting

Four Famous Intellectual Property Cases

Have Questions About Copyright Infringement? Contact Me!

I’m no lawyer, but I can share general industry knowledge and point you to intellectual property attorneys and literary lawyers.

melaniesaxton@icloud.com