“We’re still pushing ahead with this proposal,” he said.

According to Darnton, the DPLA also hopes to create an “authors’ alliance” to encourage authors to give use of their copyright to the DPLA.

“That may sound hopelessly optimistic and even naive, but, in fact, I think it will work,” Darnton said.

“Most authors find that their books don’t sell after a short time,” he added. “At that point, what authors want more than anything else is to have readers.”

In spite of these obstacles, Suber said that the DPLA is a very promising project.

“[The DPLA] has a very realistic plan to take incremental steps toward accomplishing its ambitious goals,” Suber said.

—Staff writer Francesca Annicchiarico can be reached at fannicchiarico01@college.harvard.edu. You can follow her on Twitter @FRAnnicchiarico.