Re: NY Times Ethicist Condones Ripping Off E-books

> Here (UK) the issue of copying print content was dealt with very  
> early in the existence of Xerox copying machines; it is against  
> copyright law - of course this was before the US joined the rest of  
> the world in Berne. The question was exactly the same; what have you  
> purchased. The answer is you have purchased a single copy with no  
> further rights to publish more copies, or cross media, or even get   
> paperback free if you bought the hardback.
>
> Now it may be hard for the US traditionalists to understand that the  
> net has thrust us all into each other's laps. And since most  
> everything can be made a digital file the potential for taking  
> without payment or respect to law is great.
>
> Suggesting that, because you have paid for a copy of something, you  
> are automatically entitled to get other copies that have been  
> stolen,  is ethical correctness gone mad.

Nevertheless, US law is very different from UK law on these points.  
Before you argue that it's madness, perhaps you ought to check out the  
applicable US law in regards to this US published article. Or rather,  
while it may be madness, it's still the law.

I'm not arguing for or against either, and I don't have time to read  
any of the articles right now, but it's quite possible that the NYT  
lawyers checked out the opinion and passed it on. After all, it is  
perfectly legal here in the US to buy a CD and rip a copy for your  
personal use... just as you used to be able to copy LP's to cassette  
tape. I'm not sure there's ever been a court case on the legality of  
downloading digital copies of music where you own a physical copy in  
another format (such as cassette or LP) which is not easily  
transferable to digital media. The ones I am aware of that are close  
to that, the court has slapped down IP holders attempts to limit  
things like time shifting and media shifting. And yes, it is very  
likely that the courts here would say, "well, one kind of IP is like  
this, others should be too." Of course, it depends which federal  
district court you get and who paid for their election/appointment.

dej


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Learn to use Google Analytics to make your web site more effective.
Buy my book! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047017501X/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I loathe writing. On the other hand I'm a great believer in money."  
-- S.J. Perelman
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the midst of winter, I finally realized that deep within me there  
lay an invincible summer.
--Albert Camus
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am Writer, hear me Pontificate!





------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------
Post a message:   ebook-community [[at]] *
Unsubscribe:      ebook-community-unsubscribe [[at]] *
Switch to digest: ebook-community-digest [[at]] *
Switch to normal: ebook-community-normal [[at]] *
Put mail on hold: ebook-community-nomail [[at]] *
Administrator:    ebook-community-owner [[at]] *

(* == yahoogroups.com)
-------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebook-community/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebook-community/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    [email protected] 
    ebook-community-fullfeatured-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    ebook-community-unsubscribe-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/