Anna’s Archive Hit with Court Order Over WorldCat Data
A U.S. court has ordered Anna’s Archive, a controversial open-source search engine for shadow libraries, to delete copies of WorldCat data and halt any further scraping or distribution. The ruling comes after OCLC, the organization behind WorldCat, accused the platform of illegally accessing and distributing 2.2TB of proprietary library records.
Anna’s Archive, launched in 2022, has faced increasing scrutiny since its original domain was suspended by the Public Interest Registry. The platform has been blocked in several countries and is now at the center of a lawsuit from OCLC.
The Legal Battle: OCLC vs Anna’s Archive
OCLC claims Anna’s Archive “illegally hacked WorldCat.org” to obtain roughly 700 million unique records over the course of a year. While these records did not include copyrighted books or articles, they could be used to fill gaps in shadow library collections, a move critics say undermines intellectual property protections.
In court filings, OCLC argued that the actions of Anna’s Archive caused ongoing and irreparable damage, prompting a request for a permanent injunction. Originally, OCLC sought millions in damages but later limited its claim to stopping the misuse of data and preventing further harm, including restrictions for third-party services.
What the Court Ordered
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson issued a default judgment and permanent injunction against Anna’s Archive’s operators, whose identities remain unknown. The injunction requires the site to purge all WorldCat data and prohibits future scraping or distribution.
“This injunction is necessary to prevent further harm to OCLC,” court documents state, emphasizing that the unauthorized access of library metadata is a serious legal violation.
The Shadow Library Debate
Anna’s Archive has positioned itself as a mission-driven platform aiming to preserve human knowledge. In a previous statement, the site argued that copyright laws are overly restrictive and that its efforts to make information freely accessible are justified, even if risky.
Despite these claims, legal experts say that mass copying of proprietary databases like WorldCat constitutes a clear violation of U.S. law. The case highlights the growing tension between open-access advocates and intellectual property holders.
Wider Implications for Digital Libraries
The injunction against Anna’s Archive signals a potential crackdown on shadow library platforms that rely on scraped or pirated data. For users of such services, this ruling may limit access to previously available metadata and complicate efforts to build free digital libraries.
Experts predict that the case could set a precedent for how courts treat similar platforms in the future, emphasizing that even metadata—without copyrighted content—can be protected under intellectual property laws.
What’s Next for Anna’s Archive
With its operations legally constrained, Anna’s Archive faces an uncertain future. While the platform may continue advocating for open access, the court order makes it clear that unauthorized use of proprietary databases carries serious consequences.
The case also underscores the ongoing debate over balancing public access to knowledge with the rights of content owners. As digital libraries and shadow repositories expand, the legal landscape surrounding them is likely to grow more complex.
Array