ABSTRACT
Amazon has become the go to marketplace for everything from household appliances to clothes. You would be hard pressed to find an item that Amazon does not sell. One aspect of Amazon that is particularly interesting is its platforms that allow self-published books. There is an ongoing tug-of-war between Amazon and authors with the main point of tension being copyright infringement. The question is who should be held responsible when copyright infringement is conducted online? While the Digital Millennium Copyright Act attempted to solve this issue, there are numerous loopholes and lawsuits that highlight the statute’s shortfalls. Ultimately, this article will explore how copyright infringement of books occurs on Amazon, allegations against Amazon, and the role the retail online powerhouse plays in helping or hindering authors. The question that must be answered is if Amazon is complicit in allowing copyright infringement of books on its platforms or if it has simply fallen on the outskirts of the DMCA’s provisions.
Emily Ruzevich, Friend or Foe: Amazon and The Role It Plays in The Fight Against Copyright Infringement of Books, 20 UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law 87 (2020).
First posted 2020-11-25 19:57:49
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