Major Labels Resolve Copyright Dispute With Internet Archive

Major record labels including Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment have settled their lawsuit against the nonprofit Internet Archive over its digitization and streaming of vintage vinyl recordings.

Backstory:

• The dispute began in 2023 when UMG Recordings, Capitol Records, Concord, Sony Music and Arista Music sued the Internet Archive over its ‘Great 78 Project.’

• The project involved digitizing 78rpm records from the 1890s-1950s that had been donated to the Archive and making them available online.

The accusation:

• The companies accused the Archive of running an “illegal record store” that violated thousands of copyrighted works by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald.

• The Archive claimed the Project was simply ensuring the “survival of these cultural materials for future generations to study and enjoy.”

• The case was allowed to go to trial following Judge Maxine Chesney’s rejection of the Archive’s position that some copyright claims were time-barred.

The settlement terms:

• Are being finalized, with the lawsuit expected to be formally dismissed within 45 days.