20.04.20
The ASA has been distressed to learn that the Internet Archive, based in the US, is using the COVID-19 pandemic as justification for making millions of copyright protected books freely available online without restriction as part of its 'National Emergency Library'.
We consider the Internet Archive to facilitate copyright infringement; it is not a public library and operates by scanning physical books (usually donated) and then making those digitised copies freely available for lending to users all around the world, including Australia. By undertaking this activity without either seeking permission or providing fair payment to the creators, Internet Archive is undermining legitimate ebooks sales and standard library practices.
Given how tremendously difficult it is to earn a living from writing, the ASA is concerned about any practice which could damage revenue for our creators, many of whom are already on precarious incomes and likely to be further impacted by the pandemic.
Internet Archive launched the ‘National Emergency Library’ in late March to facilitate increased lending by turning off waitlists through to 30 June 2020, or the end of the US national emergency, whichever is later.
Author organisations around the world have objected to the practices of the Internet Archive. The US Authors Guild and UK Society of Authors have both issued strong statements condemning the ‘National Emergency Library’.
We encourage all authors who object to their books being included in the ‘National Emergency Library’ to opt out, using the instructions found here.
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