[misnome]

It seems an especially dumb move because being sued was absolutely inevitable from the first announcement of this.

Presumably, even if they are hoping to change law with the case - it’s putting up the rest of IA’s (almost irreplaceably invaluable) mission as a gamble on whatever chances they think they have here.

[COGlory]

I hadn't considered this angle, and would love to be wrong, but haven't digital books been exempt from first sale doctrine for quite some time now? I thought this case law was well established.

[ghaff]

I can't quote you law but my understanding is that first sale doctrine applies to physical things. So virtually lending a corresponding digital copy to a physical book seems a creative application of first sale doctrine--which may or may not be strictly legal but apparently the publishers weren't interested in pushing that.