Internet Archive Being Sued over COVID-19 "Emergency Library"

The Internet Archive (IA) is a nonprofit organization that has digitally preserved more than 1.4 million books and historical documents. The organization is best known for the Wayback Machine which comprises nearly 390 billion pages of internet archives. Following the recent pandemic, IA began another project called the Open Library in which it allowed users to borrow digital copies of archived books. These books included not only those in the public domain but works that are still under copyright protection. IA does own physical copies of each book and much like a standard library, the Open Library lent only one digital copy of each book out at a time.

In June of this year, a number of publishers challenged the Open Library claiming that IA was engaging in piracy of these copyrighted works. The suit requests an injunction against further lending of protected material but does not seek to shut down IA as an organization. Even if successful, works within the public domain would still be available. Read full article here: https://www.vox.com/2020/6/23/21293875/internet-archive-website-lawsuit-open-library-wayback-machine-controversy-copyright

Contract Drafting: It's All in the Details

In 1881, Dr. Joseph Lawrence invented Listerine and it remains the #1 best selling mouthwash. Later that year, Dr. Lawrence sold the secret formulation to a pharmacist named Jordan Lambert. The contract drafted in this exchange required Lambert to pay Dr. Lawrence a royalty based on volumetric sales for as long as Listerine was sold.

For many years, Lambert and his successors continued to pay the royalty as promised, but in 1931 the secret formula was leaked to a medical journal and published. Warner-Lambert continued to pay the royalties in spite of the disclosure but fifteen years later, those royalties totaled $1.5 million for the year. Warner-Lambert grew weary of paying fees on a formula that had lost its trade secret value and attempted to invalidate the agreement in 1959.

The court quickly ruled that the loss of the trade secret had no bearing on the royalties due. It held that the contract was clearly and concisely drafted and that payments were required to continue in perpetuity until Listerine sales were discontinued. Consequently, the royalty payments continue 139 years later.

A share of these royalties came up for auction earlier this month. The winning bidder paid $561,000 for the share even though it generated only $32,000 in revenue last year. With royalties rolling in for the foreseeable future it may still prove to be a good investment. Even so, the story serves as a great example of lack of foresight in contracting drafting.

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Engineer Posts Open-source DIY "Ventilator-ish" Device Instructions

With the recent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases many are concerned that ventilator supplies may run low. One man has come up with a way to create a ventilator-like apparatus by modifying a standard CPAP machine. This device is not FDA approved and does not appear to have been tested by any medical professionals; however, it’s encouraging that people are trying to come up with alternative solutions for potential ventilator shortages. Please make/use this device at your own risk as I cannot comment on its safety or efficacy.

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