Weekly IP Buzz for the Week Ending June 19, 2020
In this week's post, we see how, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the Internet Archive expanded its digital offerings to include many copyrighted works and now finds itself in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Plus, an article on raising money and debt, and how that's part of the fuel that helps businesses, large and small, mature and thrive.
Surge in Free Books Available Online Spurs Major Copyright Infringement Suit
Whether opportunistic or simply generous, many online services have taken the initiative to offer their services or wares for free for a limited time or for cheaper prices during the current pandemic. The services have included, for example, lower food delivery costs, free months of pay-to-see websites, and a deluge of new e-books to read online. However, the Internet Archive offering the latter, has found itself in the hot seat, being named a defendant in a lawsuit brought by four major publishing houses.
The Internet Archive stands accused of offering more than a million scanned works to the public without having secured the proper licensing rights. In the complaint filed, the plaintiffs allege that the Internet Archive makes available for the public “verbatim” digital copies of the works still protected under federal copyright law. The Internet Archive has not denied the claims, having announced its intent as early as March to establish a “National Emergency Library” in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, which has led to the immediate shutdown of libraries nationwide.
Find the full article here.
Raising Money: Debt
Debt. It is a fact of life for businesses and households in the United States. While it may bring strong emotional feelings when brought up, it doesn’t have to be an unspeakable word. In fact, it is part of the fuel that helps businesses, large and small, mature and thrive. However, it must be carefully considered. As Spiderman’s grandfather said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Debt is the promise to pay someone in the future for funds or goods received now. Hundreds of millions of transactions in the U.S. happen this way every day. Credit cards, open accounts, and services provided on credit are all forms of debt. In the business context, debt usually takes two forms when used for expansion, growth, or funding.
Read more here about straight debt, small business loans, convertible debt, and line of credit.
Click to read the previous Weekly IP Buzz on Thriving Attorney.
For more posts, see our Intellectual Property Law Blog.
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In addition to Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer.