Does archive.org plan to implement a download feature and domain archive coverage indicator? (I assume they don’t have that, otherwise you’d probably mention it. It would also make sense to publish such incremental archives as distributed version control access points.)
Our terms of use specify that users of the Wayback Machine are not to copy data from the collection. If there are special circumstances that you think the Archive should consider, please contact info at archive dot org.
I think that legally, the copy in your browser doesn’t count somehow, the same way that the copy of a painting that you make by holding a mirror near it doesn’t count. I’m guessing the criterion is whether the copy is ephemeral or persistent.
This is a place where copyright law and theory still haven’t quite caught up, though there are numerous attempts to make laws about these things while just ignoring facts like “To use software one must often copy a significant part of it into memory”.
ETA: There’s usually something about being allowed to make copies of software if it “is an essential step in the utilization of the computer program”, which is arguably an extension of the “transitory duration” clause (which would cover the ‘mirror’ case)
Does archive.org plan to implement a download feature and domain archive coverage indicator? (I assume they don’t have that, otherwise you’d probably mention it. It would also make sense to publish such incremental archives as distributed version control access points.)
Edit: From the FAQ:
(No explanation is given for why this is though.)
But… the only way to view the ‘data’ is by copying it to my computer! That’s how the Internet works!
I think that legally, the copy in your browser doesn’t count somehow, the same way that the copy of a painting that you make by holding a mirror near it doesn’t count. I’m guessing the criterion is whether the copy is ephemeral or persistent.
This is a place where copyright law and theory still haven’t quite caught up, though there are numerous attempts to make laws about these things while just ignoring facts like “To use software one must often copy a significant part of it into memory”.
ETA: There’s usually something about being allowed to make copies of software if it “is an essential step in the utilization of the computer program”, which is arguably an extension of the “transitory duration” clause (which would cover the ‘mirror’ case)
I would imagine intellectual property laws.