Internet Archive faces legal battle over digital library

The Internet Archive and book publishers will face off in court over the Open Library program, which allows libraries to scan and lend copies of their own books as ebooks on a one-to-one basis. The lawsuit takes aim not just at the Open Library but also at the theory of controlled digital lending (CDL) in general. CDL is a non-standard practice that lets libraries digitize copies of books in their collections and offer access to them as ebooks. The case will determine whether libraries must rely on temporary digital licenses that publishers offer or whether they can scan and lend copies of their own books.