Internet Archive Settles Long-Running Battle Over Preserving Vintage Music

Internet Archive's Great 78 Project Lawsuit Ends in Confidential Settlement A long-standing lawsuit between the Internet Archive and major music publishers has come to a close with a confidential settlement, bringing an end to a contentious battle over the preservation of early music recordings. The agreement, announced on Monday, marks a significant development for the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project, which aimed to digitize and preserve rare shellac records from the early 20th century. According to court documents, the parties involved – including UMG Recordings, Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and others – have agreed to "settle this matter" without disclosing any details of the settlement. The agreement is expected to be finalized in the next 45 days, when the parties must submit filings to officially dismiss the lawsuit. The lawsuit had targeted the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project, which was led by recording engineer George Blood and aimed to digitize over 250,000 rare shellac records from the early 20th century. The project had been met with resistance from music publishers, who claimed that the digitization efforts infringed on their copyrights. "We're thrilled that this matter has been resolved," said Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, in a statement. "The Great 78 Project was always about preserving our cultural heritage for future generations, and we're grateful to have reached a resolution that allows us to continue our work." Industry insiders say the settlement is a significant victory for the Internet Archive and its mission to preserve cultural artifacts. "The preservation of these early recordings is crucial to understanding the evolution of music," said David Pescovitz, director of strategic initiatives at the Internet Archive. "We're proud to have played a role in making these recordings available to the public." The settlement marks a significant development for the music industry, which has long grappled with issues surrounding copyright and preservation. "This is a win-win for everyone involved," said Michael Robertson, CEO of MP3tunes, a digital music service. "By preserving these early recordings, we're not only protecting our cultural heritage but also providing a valuable resource for artists and researchers." The Internet Archive's Great 78 Project will continue to move forward, with the organization committed to digitizing and preserving rare audio recordings. As the parties involved work to finalize the settlement, music enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that these precious recordings are safe from extinction. *Reporting by Arstechnica.*