Internet Archive's big battle with music publishers ends in settlement

I'm a technical person, and not a fan of copyright by any means, and I don't appreaciate it either.

To be clear, I appreciate the concept of an "Internet Archive", but the current organization / execution / management is absolutely atrocious.

Nah, it's like the wild West - I'll hold IA accountable ONLY for CP - ONLY.

If corpos want there shit off the site - they should have to send someone to take that down - every single times the whole process, always on them.

The IA is just like a big box with a copy of everything in another box.

Boxes aren't bad bc I put something bad into a box - this is a little more nuanced than that

> To be clear, I appreciate the concept of an "Internet Archive", but the current organization / execution / management is absolutely atrocious.

A pretty harsh take imo. I think they achieve a huge amount with a relatively small team and tiny budget.

I just meant I appreciate it as resource for all kinds of information, and as an invaluable backup of the web.

The internet should be a repository of all human knowledge and culture; all information and media should (at least eventually) be free as part of the common heritage of mankind. Sites like Wikipedia and IA are a partial realization of this dream. They aren't perfect, for sure, but we need them, and we need more sites like them. I fear too many take these things for granted.

Why do you say that? I'm in agreement with the other responses, and this thread has prompted me to start a recurring donation to the Internet Archive.

what's the better alternative? what's so bad that forced you to voice that comment?

Also Not A Fan. Consider that nearly all of the artists who made records pressed on 78 shellacs are long gone. How specious is the claim that they are even a significant revenue stream for the majors? (The purported rationale for copyright.)

Suppose it were significant; then how many of the artists' descendents are getting their share of the streaming revenues on those copyrighted trax? (Before the copyright expires, of course.)

Another specious claim of the majors: these trax are 'still out there'. All 400,000? How would you know, and how would anyone where to look? If you can find where they're hiding, one at a time (online or in a cardboard box under a table in the back of a record store in Poughkeepsie?) Here they all are, on one library's website.

The Great 78 collection is a wonderful and delightful addition to the historians and explorers of 42 genres of music. It's the sort of contribution only a Great Library could afford to make. Of course, beyond the comprehension of mere commerce.

Originals are far superior to the processed Internet Archive versions.

eg The Batman Animated series on there is usually sub par, low quality.

Uploading something? Expect it to be processed no matter the format.

Review the Music Modernization Act (2018) which allows anyone to send a list of pre-1972 recordings to the Copyright Office. If no entity responds saying they are making commercial use of those recordings, the recordings become Free for non-commercial use, including unlimited download. Now consider why Brewster gave talks celebrating this law but chose not to follow it.

The original uploaded file is always available for download, without any processing. Agree that the processing they apply for derivative files is often dated and awful (and they don't let an uploader opt out). And the broken torrent files they've been serving for a decade with corrupt and missing files is absurd.

But raw DVD RIPs of commercial DVDs, FLACs of the most popular albums of all time, and seven perfect copies of every Nintendo Switch game ever made, curated by seven different warez groups are also available.

Accepting donations to preserve internet pages then nearly getting sued out of business twice in two years over side projects that have nothing to do with your core mission would result in management change at any normal non-profit. Likewise leaking 30+ million patron communications at a library (including passports and driver's licenses) would get you bounced from a normal library.

Not to mention diversions like trying to start a bank and getting your ass handed to you by the feds.

https://ncua.gov/newsroom/press-release/2016/internet-archiv...

"Unwillingness to open accounts within the field of membership, make loans, and establish operations in the low-income community where the credit union was chartered to serve..."

The fact that a site chartered to provide "universal access to all knowledge" is banned at most public library terminals is a start.

Partly because people use web.archive.org to bypass other, more sinister firewall blocks. (And I'm okay with that.)

But non-stop copyright lawsuits don't help. People begging for personal information up to child pornography to be removed and not getting a prompt response from Internet Archive support might also be a source of concern.

The site is funded by its wealthy founder and he also uses it as a vehicle for his pet projects. They don't issue annual reports. They don't have a functioning board. They didn't even consider accepting donations until Brewster realized it helps build reputation.

I certainly don't begrudge anyone who donates but the TV, Movie, and Video Game industry lawsuits are obviously next in line.