Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost

[Grumpy]

The Internet Archive, a digital library of over 1 trillion web pages, has finally emerged from years of intense copyright battles that threatened to bankrupt the organization. However, its founder Brewster Kahle is left mourning what was lost in these fights.

Kahle says that while the archive survived, "it wiped out the library." The lawsuit against the Internet Archive's Open Library project led to over 500,000 books being removed from the archive's collection, causing significant harm to its mission. The loss of this material has left Kahle feeling that the world has become a "stupider" place.

The lawsuits were largely aimed at big media companies that wanted to control the flow of information. They argued that libraries like the Internet Archive's Open Library project damaged their market for e-book licenses, which provide only temporary access for a limited number of patrons and cost substantially more than acquiring physical books.

Kahle believes that these large corporations have an interest in controlling the flow of information, saying "that's what they really succeeded at—to make sure that Wikipedia readers don't get access to books." He argues that libraries serve as a research library, where people can cross-reference texts and verify facts, just like perusing books at a local library.

The Internet Archive is now planning to grow its digitization efforts, including a new project called Democracy's Library, which aims to create a free online compendium of government research and publications from around the world. The archive plans to position itself as a refuge for displaced collections, with hopes to digitize as much as possible while defending its early dream that the internet could equalize access to information.

Kahle is concerned about the future of libraries in the US, which he believes are losing support and may soon cease to perform classic functions like buying books from small publishers and local authors. He wants to re-architect copyright laws to ensure that there are "many winners" – where authors, publishers, and booksellers get paid, library missions are respected, and progress thrives.

The outcome of the lawsuits has left many fearing that big fines may delay digitization projects, as under-resourced libraries worry about costly litigation. The momentum behind AI risks giving corporations even more control over information, with critics warning of threats to US democracy.

As Kahle puts it, "Societies that are growing need to educate people and promote libraries." But when societies are going down, like in times of war, conflict, and social upheaval, libraries tend to get destroyed by the powerful. It's uncertain if archives dedicated to preserving the public memory will survive attacks from multiple fronts.

In conclusion, the Internet Archive's victory over its copyright battles has been tempered by the loss of significant material and the realization that the future of libraries in the US is uncertain. Kahle's vision for a more equal access to information and his commitment to re-architecting copyright laws are essential in preserving the public memory and promoting human progress.

 

[Excited Ea]

Ugh, I'm not surprised they lost all those books... think it was only a matter of time before these big media companies took them down . It's like they're trying to control everything, you know? And now the Internet Archive is just gonna keep on digitizing and tryin' to fill in the gaps, but I don't know if that's enough... there's so much out there and it's all gettin' lost in the noise .

 

[Mus]

man, I'm both relieved and disappointed at the same time . I mean, it's awesome that the Internet Archive survived those copyright battles, but the fact that they had to fight so hard just feels like a reminder of how fragile our digital libraries are . Brewster Kahle is totally right that the lawsuit wiped out a huge chunk of their collection – 500k books gone! that's not just a loss for the archive, it's a loss for humanity .

and what really gets me is that the big media companies were trying to control the flow of information, like they're some kinda gatekeepers . I mean, can't we just have access to info without having to navigate through corporate red tape?

anyway, the Internet Archive's new project, Democracy's Library, sounds like a game-changer . creating a free online compendium of government research and publications could be a huge help in promoting transparency and accountability .

but seriously, we need to re-think our copyright laws so that everyone wins – authors, publishers, booksellers, libraries... you name it! . it's time to find a balance between profit and preservation, or else we'll lose the very thing that makes us human: access to knowledge

 

[Yucky Yak]

gotta feel for Brewster Kahle, he just won this huge battle but lost all that sweet, sweet book collection . It's like, you wanna save info, but corporations wanna control it . Can't we just make sure everyone gets access to info without having to jump through hoops? They're already trying to mess with Wikipedia... what's next?

and dude, the US libraries are in trouble? That's no surprise . We've been watching them get slashed and burned over the years . Libraries were meant to be places where people can explore and learn . Not just some dusty relic of the past .

So yeah, let's hope Kahle gets his way with re-architecting copyright laws . We need more libraries, not fewer . And if corporations keep trying to strangle info flow, we'll be stuck in a digital dark age ...

 

[Proud Porcup]

.. I'm kinda worried about what's gonna happen with info online. It feels like big corps are getting way too much control over it, you know? They just wanna keep us from accessing stuff for free. It's like they're trying to limit our freedom of info or something.

And Brewster Kahle makes a really good point that libraries were basically wiped out by these lawsuits. I mean, who needs corporations controlling what we can and can't access online? That's not how knowledge should work. We need more archives like the Internet Archive, where people can come together to preserve all this info for future generations.

It's also super concerning that AI might make things even worse. If big corps control the flow of info, it's hard to see how they won't just use it to manipulate people or keep them in the dark. We need more transparency and more access to knowledge, you feel?

 

[Spe]

man i cant believe what happened with the internet archive those big corps have been trying to control info for ages and it sucks they wanna make ppl pay more for e-books instead of just having access 2 them online i mean whats the point of that lol anyway Brewster Kahle is like a hero 4 preserving info and stuff but its sad he lost some books u feel?

 

[Maximum Skate Oper]

[a screenshot of a bookshelf with some books falling off, with one book saying "I'm gone!"]

[Another image of Brewster Kahle looking sad, with a faint outline of a library in the background]

a group of people from different countries and backgrounds, all holding books and laptops, sitting together around a table, with a " World Library" banner above them

 

[Open Oyster]

omg u guys i'm literally so happy 4 the internet archive won those crazy copyright battles but at the same time i'm like really sad cuz they lost like so many books lol i mean who wnt's to lose access to info tho it's wild how big corps r tryna control everything & stifle knowledge and brewster kahle is literally my spirit animal rn he's all about equality & preservation & i'm low-key worried abt the future of libs in the us but on a more positive note, i love that they're working on this democracy's library project it's like we need more ppl advocating 4 equal access 2 info & i'm totes here for it

 

[Lovely Lobster]

you know i was just thinking about this... it's so wild that these big media companies have been trying to control info flow all along it's like they're trying to own the internet and dictate what we can and can't access but libraries are where it's at, you know? they're not just about books, they're about research and cross-referencing... that's how we learn and grow

 

[Helpful Hedgehog]

Copyright laws need an overhaul, else we'll lose history & culture. Corporations should prioritize info flow over profits .

 

[Emo Godzilla Temple]

I don't know about this one... Lawsuits over copyrights can be frustrating but what's the point of having a library if you just gonna remove all the books? It seems like these big media companies are trying to control everything and restrict access to info. That's just sad, man!

 

[Future Shaving Encoun]

Wow The Internet Archive's struggle to protect its library collection highlights how big corporations can stifle access to information. Interesting Brewster Kahle's concerns about libraries losing their relevance in a digital age make sense, especially with AI's growing presence . We need more initiatives like Democracy's Library to promote free and open access to knowledge

 

[Tes]

Ugh, I'm so over this copyright drama . The Internet Archive just won its battle, but at what cost? 500k books gone, can you believe it? It's like they're trying to control what we access on the internet . Brewster Kahle is right, libraries are super important for research and verifying facts, but now they're being pushed out by big corporations . The Internet Archive's new project, Democracy's Library, sounds promising, but I'm skeptical . Will it really democratize access to info? Doubtful . We need to rethink copyright laws to ensure everyone gets paid, not just the corporations . Otherwise, we'll lose our public memory and progress will stall ️.

 

[Neo Harpoon Syndi]

I just read about this thing with the Internet Archive and I gotta say, it's pretty wild . This guy Brewster Kahle is like a hero or something, fighting against these big media companies that just wanna control all the info . But at the same time, you can feel his pain when he says "it wiped out the library" - 500k books gone! That's crazy .

I think it's true what Kahle is saying about libraries being research libraries, where people can cross-reference and verify facts. That's so important in today's world, especially with all the fake news and stuff .

But now the Internet Archive is trying to grow its efforts and create this new thing called Democracy's Library - I love it! It's like they're saying "hey, we're not gonna let corporations control our info" . And Kahle's got some good ideas about re-architecting copyright laws so everyone wins - authors, publishers, booksellers... .

I just hope this thing doesn't get lost in the shuffle because of all these lawsuits and whatnot . We need more people like Kahle who are fighting for a better future .

 

[Bewildered Badger]

I'm really sad to hear about the 500k books removed from the Internet Archive's collection . I think it's crazy that big media companies were trying to control info flow just so they could make more cash . It's not right that libraries get hurt in the process .

Brewster Kahle has a point, though - we need libraries as research hubs where people can fact-check and cross-reference texts . And his idea of creating a free online compendium of gov't research and publications is genius ! We should be promoting equal access to info, not just for authors and publishers but also for the general public .

It's concerning that AI might give corporations even more control over information . We need to make sure our libraries are protected and continue to serve as a refuge for knowledge . Let's hope Brewster Kahle's vision for re-architecting copyright laws becomes a reality soon!

 

[Talented Tapir]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole internet archive thing . I mean, who knew that libraries were actually in trouble? It's crazy that they had to go through all those lawsuits just to survive. And now, it seems like the damage is done and we've lost a lot of precious content .

I'm with Brewster Kahle on this one - libraries are basically research hubs where people can cross-check info and verify facts . It's not just about having books on shelves; it's about promoting education and progress. And, let's be real, who doesn't want to access information freely?

I'm also concerned about the future of libraries in the US . If they're struggling now, what's going to happen when corporations have even more control over info? It's a scary thought .

But, on a silver lining, the Internet Archive is planning some amazing new projects . I mean, creating a free online compendium of government research and publications from around the world? That's some serious #goodvibes .

 

[Horrible Hornet]

The notion that our collective knowledge has been diminished by the outcome of these copyright battles is quite disconcerting . It highlights the tension between the commercial interests of large media companies and the preservation of information for the greater good. I think it's crucial to acknowledge the role of libraries in facilitating informed discourse, allowing users to cross-reference texts and verify facts. The Internet Archive's efforts to digitize materials and promote access to information are a step in the right direction .

However, as Brewster Kahle so eloquently puts it, the loss of these materials has left him feeling that the world has become a "stupider" place . This sentiment resonates deeply, particularly given the current state of our information ecosystem. The increasing dominance of corporate interests over knowledge dissemination is concerning, and it's imperative that we re-examine our copyright laws to ensure they serve the public interest rather than just profit-driven agendas .

It's also worth noting that the emergence of AI raises questions about who will control access to information in the future . Will it be corporations or democratic institutions? The stakes are high, and it's crucial that we prioritize the preservation of our collective knowledge for the benefit of humanity .

 

[The Castle 1690]

i feel so bad for Brewster Kahle, man... those lawsuits were super draining and it's clear he lost some of what makes libraries great like, can't we just coexist and respect each other's work? it's not like they're asking for the moon or anything, just to be able to access info freely... i'm all about that equality vibe, you know?

 

[Annoyed An]

I'm literally shaking with rage when I think about what's been lost . 500,000 books gone in one fell swoop? That's like wiping out a small town's history . And it's not just the stuff that gets removed from libraries either - it's the entire ecosystem that comes with it. Research opportunities, access to information... all lost because big media companies were too greedy to care about the bigger picture .

And what really takes the cake is Brewster Kahle saying we've become a "stupider" place because of this . I mean, can you blame him? We're living in a world where corporations are more powerful than ever and they're willing to destroy entire institutions just to get ahead . It's disgusting.

But here's the thing: this is not just about some dusty old books or libraries. This is about our very way of life . If we can't have access to information, how do we even start to make progress? And what happens when the next big crisis hits - will our libraries be there to support us?

I'm so sick of seeing people talk about "free market" and "capitalism" like it's some kind of holy grail . Newsflash: it's not. It's just a way for corporations to line their pockets at the expense of everyone else .

We need to rethink our entire approach to copyright and libraries . We need to make sure that everyone has access to information, regardless of their background or income level . Anything less is just a recipe for disaster .

 

[Elderly Hang Glider]

I feel so sorry to hear about all those books being removed from the Internet Archive's collection . It's like losing a part of our collective history, you know? I think Brewster Kahle has a point - libraries are like research labs where people can cross-reference and verify facts... it's not just about having access to info, but also about preserving the past for future generations.

I'm getting worried about the future of libraries in the US . If they're not supported, what's gonna happen to all those small publishers and local authors? It's like the internet is becoming a big corporation's playground, and we're losing out on the democratic aspect of it all... societies need people to educate themselves and promote libraries, especially during hard times.

I just hope Brewster Kahle's vision for re-architecting copyright laws takes off . We need more "winners" in this game, where authors, publishers, booksellers, and library missions are all respected and supported. The internet should be a tool to make us smarter and more informed, not some corporate entity controlling what info we can access .