A Legal Breakthrough: Internet Archive Settles Copyright Lawsuit with Record Labels

The article reports that Sony Music, Universal Music Group (UMG) and several other record labels sued the Internet Archive in 2023 over the Great 78 Project, but the case has now reached a settlement. Documents were submitted to the court confirming that a settlement had been reached, with the case expected to be formally withdrawn within 45 days, and both sides agreed to resolve all disputes under a non-disclosure agreement.

The precise terms remain confidential, but the Internet Archive noted that neither side would offer further public comment. The original complaint targeted 2,749 recordings, later expanded to 4,142, including White Christmas, Sing, Sing, Sing, and The Christmas Song. If the court had ruled for the labels, the Internet Archive could have faced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per track.

The settlement follows, in part, the Internet Archive’s broader history with copyright litigation, including the National Emergency Library case, which the court ruled did not qualify as fair use. According to Rolling Stone.