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Donkey!!!

Thanks. Got it in my head now.

Got a feeling this sort of thing only happens in fairy tales.

I doubt he will be around for much longer!

If that story had come out nearer to 1st April, nobody would have believed what that place was doing with the deceased.

Yes it's true.

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I think (without re-reading the Telegraph article) that it has gone through the American courts already, with authors creating merry hell about it, but the decision that it was acceptable to just keep the book in digital form was decided by the judge. One of the companies gave its AI the brief to ‘buy and copy every book in the world’. If I ever publish anything I will only do one copy, keep it myself and lend it out! Or maybe print lots, so there is always one stored somewhere. However, it seems to be the rare and valuable, historic books they want.

As a book/manuscript conservator, I have helped to digitise/scan thousands of out of copyright books legally while the items we copied were retained. I don't know enough about American copyright laws but do know that many other countries do as we do. I suspect this is a decision by the AI companies and not by legitimate libraries and archives. American conservators are extremely worried and trying to stop the practice.

@B8 - what Elon Musk says and what Elon Musk does - or permits his companies to do - do not necessary tally.

Reminds me of the 1953 book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Hopefully the same will happen, someone will become disillusioned at the destruction and turn it around...or just stop it right now.

I would like to know what the Orange one has to say on this subject(only in America) :-(

This highlights the importance of libraries. It seems lawless at the moment as we can't keep up with changing tech.

Yes, I saw this and was appalled that they're doing this. These books aren't just about words, they are pieces of historical evidence, showing printing methods, book binding, materials etc. These AI corporations are reducing everything to money, profit driven without any consideration to culture, history and the importance of an original object.

We need to fight against this vandalism.

What an awful way to treat books, which are an important part of history. I'm appalled. I hated when teachers would want you to make notes in margins of textbooks because I was always taught to look after my possessions, to never deface books and I love reading.

I'd want to slap someone if I saw them ripping a book apart.

I started off being unimpressed by AI and ignoring it, then I thought that the disregard for copyright and creatives was appalling and started to object to it, now I think we should actively oppose it in almost all circumstances. This is another example of why the tech bros shouldn't be pandered to. Absolutely awful.

On a technical point. When the books are copied they are still covered under copyright laws. Destroying them after copying is surely too late. But of course by then they have destroyed the evidence which should mean they tampered with evidence anyway.

When the system goes down these books will be lost for ever. Makes you wonder what AI would be learning from our violent history. I am surprised there are no lawyers on the case as people in the USA respect their heritage. It is not just the words, the books are works of art.

What a ridiculous law.

Don't give up hope, any active account could win at any time. As with any lottery or giveaway, some people win and some don't, but at least ours is free. You don't often get the chance to win something for free in life, after all.

Don't get cramp in your fingers. I have been here over 10 years without a win and others have been here since it started and not won yet.