In The News

PEN America Report Finds the Battle Over Book Bans Has Entered an Alarming New Phase

“For many students, families, educators, librarians, and school districts, book banning is a new normal,” the report, 'Banned in the USA 2024-2025: The Normalization of Book Banning,' concludes.

In a Setback for the Freedom to Read, Florida Court Finds 'No First Amendment Right to Receive Information' in Libraries

In an 18-page ruling, judge Allen Winsor stopped short of finding that library book selection is government speech, but agreed that Escambia County officials have unfettered power to ban books they disagree with.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 26, 2025

Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Anthropic Settlement

While there may yet be issues to work out as the claims process begins, authors and industry groups are applauding the deal.

In New Filing, DOJ Defends Trump's Bid to Take Over the Library of Congress, and to Fire the Register of Copyrights

After a recent appeals court decision, Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is back at work. But in a head-spinning September 22 motion for summary judgment, DOJ lawyers insist that, one way or another, her purported firing was legal.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 19, 2025

In a Rebuke, Court Strikes Trump's $15 Billion Defamation Complaint

Judge Steven Merryday gave Trump lawyers 28 days to re-file the case, warning that "a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective."

Internet Archive, Music Labels Settle Copyright Suit

The settlement appears to be the last gasp of a contentious, years-long copyright battle that began with a lawsuit over book scanning in the early days of the pandemic.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 12, 2025

Appeals Court Blocks the Trump Administration's Firing of Top Copyright Officer

In a 2-1 decision, a federal appeals court ruled that judge Timothy Kelly erred in denying Shira Perlmutter’s bid for a preliminary injunction, and enjoined Trump administration officials from interfering with her service as Register of Copyrights, pending a further order of the court.

In a Surprise Setback, Judge Declines to Grant Preliminary Approval of Anthropic Copyright Settlement

At a September 8 hearing, judge William Alsup said the settlement agreement was “nowhere close to complete” and ordered the parties to cure several deficiencies by September 22.

Anthropic, Authors Unveil Terms of $1.5 Billion Deal to Settle Piracy Claims

If the settlement is approved, an undisclosed number of authors of some 500,000 pirated works will receive roughly $3,000 per work, making the settlement potentially the largest copyright award in history.

Despite Trump Efforts, Congress Looks to Fund the IMLS

With a budget deadline looming, Congress appears poised to fund the IMLS in fiscal year 2026, even as the Trump administration seeks to shutter the agency by executive order.

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 5, 2025

The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending August 29, 2025

Anthropic, Authors Strike Tentative Settlement Deal in AI Copyright Suit. But Will It Be Approved?

The deal looms as a potential milestone in the development of AI. But with tensions running hot between authors and the tech industry, lawyers say that getting a final deal approved may prove challenging.