Hachette v. Internet Archive

Mercanti, Fabio Hachette v. Internet Archive. JLIS.it, 2024, vol. 15, n. 1, pp. 86-108. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

In June 2020, some major publishers - Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, Penguin Random House - sued the Internet Archive for copyright infringement. The case is about the activity of the Open Library and of the National Emergency Library managed by Internet Archive. These offered digitisation and lend of printed books owned by the libraries, some of which were protected by copyright. This activity was carried out on the basis of Controlled Digital Lending, a theory not provided by US copyright law. In its March 2023 ruling, the Court agreed with the plaintiffs. In the first part of the article, the activities of the Open Library and the National Emergency Library are briefly reconstructed and the development of the litigation is put into context. The second part is dedicated to Controlled Digital Lending: the implementation process is defined, the position of its theorists is explored and the legal framework on which it is based, is reconstructed. The third part presents the main reasons for the prosecution and the Court's decision. Finally, some reflections are proposed.

Italian abstract

Nel giugno 2020 alcuni grandi editori – Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, Penguin Random House – hanno accusato Internet Archive di violazione del copyright. Alla base dell’accusa c’è l’attività della Open Library e, durante il primo periodo della pandemia da Covid-19, della National Emergency Library, entrambe gestite da Internet Archive. Queste hanno offerto in prestito digitalizzazioni di libri a stampa posseduti dalle biblioteche, alcuni dei quali protetti da copyright. Tale attività è stata svolta sulla base del Controlled Digital Lending il quale, secondo i suoi teorizzatori, è fondato sulla first sale doctrine e sul fair use, ma non è previsto dalla legge sul copyright degli Stati Uniti. Con la sentenza del marzo 2023 la Corte ha dato ragione ai querelanti. Nella prima parte dell’articolo viene sinteticamente ricostruita l’attività della Open Library e della National Emergency Library e si contestualizza lo sviluppo del contenzioso. La seconda parte è dedicata al Controlled Digital Lending: si definisce il processo di implementazione, si approfondisce la posizione dei suoi teorizzatori e si ricostruisce il quadro giuridico sul quale si basa. Nella terza parte si presentano invece le principali ragioni dell’accusa e la decisione della Corte. Infine si propongono alcuni stimoli per ampliare la riflessione a partire dal caso giudiziario trattato.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: Hachette v. Internet Archive; Controlled digital lending; Open library; Digital lending; prestito digitale
Date deposited: 15 Sep 2026 05:10
Last modified: 20 Sep 2026 22:24
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/48952

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