Australian Booksellers Concerned by "Destructive Scanning" of Books for AI Training

Unusual Book Orders Raise Alarm

Australian secondhand booksellers have noticed a pattern of unusual bulk orders, often from companies like the Canadian-based Zoom Books. These orders, placed through large marketplaces such as Abebooks or Biblio, include a wide range of books, from common paperbacks to rare and expensive items. Vendors report that these orders deviate from typical customer purchasing behaviors, prompting suspicion about their ultimate purpose.

The Practice of Destructive Scanning

The concern among booksellers stems from the practice of "destructive scanning," where physical books are purchased, their spines removed for efficient scanning, and the remaining pages pulped. This method was brought to light during a copyright lawsuit against AI company Anthropic in the United States. Court files revealed Anthropic engaged in this practice, which a judge ruled lawful under US copyright law as "transformative use."

This practice is now understood to be widespread among generative AI companies, with intermediaries facilitating the process. Booksellers fear their inventory is being funneled into this supply chain, leading to the destruction of physical books, including potentially rare and historically significant titles.

Impact on Rare Books and Cultural Artifacts

For many rare booksellers, the physical book is as important as its content, often holding historical or cultural significance beyond just the text. The destruction of these artifacts to create digital datasets for AI training represents a loss of these unique physical objects. This development raises questions about the preservation of physical literary heritage in the age of artificial intelligence.