Yesterday, the Internet Archive submitted its response to the record labels’ recent motion, which seeks to add an additional 493 sound recordings to their lawsuit against the Internet Archive for preserving 78rpm sound recordings.
The Internet Archive’s position is clear: the labels have been engaged in a long-running game of “hide-the-ball” and their motion to file a second amended complaint should be denied.
The full response is available here (PDF); the entire docket is here (CourtListener).
Statement from Brewster Kahle, digital librarian of the Internet Archive:
“More than 850 musicians have called on Universal Music Group to drop its lawsuit against the Internet Archive. Instead, the recording industry has decided to aggressively escalate its attack at a time when the Internet Archive’s preservation efforts have never been more vital.”
Learn more about the lawsuit
In 2023, major labels sued the Internet Archive for preserving 78rpm sound recordings. Learn more about the lawsuit, and why the Internet Archive is fighting back:
What archivists and historians are saying:
- Belanger, Ashley. “Music labels will regret coming for the Internet Archive, sound historian says” Ars Technica, March 7, 2025.
What musicians are saying:
- Blistein, Jon. “Kathleen Hanna, Tegan and Sara, More Back Internet Archive in $621 Million Copyright Fight” Rolling Stone, December 9, 2024.
- Carlos Campbell, Ian. “Musicians demand music labels drop their Internet Archive lawsuit” Engadget, December 9, 2024.
More:
- Blistein, Jon. “Inside the $621 Million Legal Battle for the ‘Soul of the Internet’” Rolling Stone, September 29, 2024.
- Masnick, Mike. “RIAA Piles On In The Effort To Kill The World’s Greatest Library: Sues Internet Archive For Making It Possible To Hear Old 78s” Techdirt, August 14, 2023.
- Freeland, Chris. “Internet Archive Responds to Recording Industry Lawsuit Targeting Obsolete Media” Internet Archive Blog, August 14, 2023.