First Napster, then Google Book Search, and now other sites?

First there was Napster, a platform for uploading and sharing music that was mainly in violation of copyrights.

Then there was Google Books Search (aka GoogleBooks), where Google had scanned and uploaded all sorts of books, attempting to be the next Library of Alexandria – but on the internet.  Unfortunately, they rolled right over copyright issues.  (See Google’s website on the settlement here.)

Now, perhaps it is because of the advent of the Amazon.com Kindle, increasing the popularity of electronic books (I like the smell of paper books myself), there is an increasing and alarming number of other sites that are being used to upload and share copyrighted novels and other works in violation of those copyrights.  For instance, books and novels are popping up without authorization on Scribd and Wattpad, which are marketed for uploading documents like college theses and self-published novels.  As soon as they are notified of violations, the sites say they are taking the violative material down, but it poses an interesting question.  Regardless of the intended or orignal use of these sites, if a deluge occurs, can they be forced to go the way of Napster, if they cannot get this under control?   Time will tell.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html?_r=1