Forgive me, but I just don't get it. I'm the first to admit that I'm not massively computer savvy, but surely it can't be easier to download a book than buy a book? And can it really be that much cheaper? Certainly for us overseas folk, the cost could be a big factor in downloading versus buying actual product, but surely not for you guys Over There?
Buying a book - a brand new book - is sometimes only four or five dollars these days and the secondhand markets are often very cheap. So when you factor in all the man-hours of searching and downloading, isn't it probably cheaper - and certainly always easier - just to go out and buy the book?

Forgive me, but I just don't get it. I'm the first to admit that I'm not massively computer savvy, but surely it can't be easier to download a book than buy a book? And can it really be that much cheaper? Certainly for us overseas folk, the cost could be a big factor in downloading versus buying actual product, but surely not for you guys Over There?
Buying a book - a brand new book - is sometimes only four or five dollars these days and the secondhand markets are often very cheap. So when you factor in all the man-hours of searching and downloading, isn't it probably cheaper - and certainly always easier - just to go out and buy the book?

I can see the point when the book it out of print and people are deseperately seeking to know what happened between the 3rd and the 5th book, or want to reread a book they read when kids and can't find anymore.

Here, the general copyright rules are 75 years after death for French authors and 50 years after death for foreign authors, no renewal needed. I've found books that were still copyrighted here for download at various Canadian sites.

I can see the point when the book it out of print and people are deseperately seeking to know what happened between the 3rd and the 5th book, or want to reread a book they read when kids and can't find anymore.

Here, the general copyright rules are 75 years after death for French authors and 50 years after death for foreign authors, no renewal needed. I've found books that were still copyrighted here for download at various Canadian sites.

Yes, Canada has pirates too.

-Wapitikev

Forgive me, but I just don't get it. I'm the first to admit that I'm not massively computer savvy, but surely it can't be easier to download a book than buy a book? And can it really be that much cheaper? Certainly for us overseas folk, the cost could be a big factor in downloading versus buying actual product, but surely not for you guys Over There?
Buying a book - a brand new book - is sometimes only four or five dollars these days and the secondhand markets are often very cheap. So when you factor in all the man-hours of searching and downloading, isn't it probably cheaper - and certainly always easier - just to go out and buy the book?

Downloading is only more expensive if you print it.

I agree that, morally, there is no reason NOT to buy the book used if you have budget concerns...or read them free from your library.

However, if you read them on a PC or a mobile device, then e-copy is much more convenient, and free, and illegal (unless you paid for an e-copy, like I did for "Long Way Home", for instance).

But, regarding which way is faster, since there is one particular site where all 12 RJ novels can be had in less than 5 minutes of download time, no, going out and buying them is not faster, particularly if you have to comb through used bookstores to find them all.

The only reason my search took all afternoon was because I started out using torrent, first...as Lex says it is slow and annoying...other sources are far, FAR faster.

Sadly, it is all too easy to steal FPW's hard work.

-Wapitikev

Paul R,
If you are looking for the classics, you can go to Project Gutenburg, and get them all legally. These works have had their copyright expire and are all public domain. Try one, and see how easy it is.

Stephanie

Paul R,
If you are looking for the classics, you can go to Project Gutenburg, and get them all legally. These works have had their copyright expire and are all public domain. Try one, and see how easy it is.

Stephanie

Hi, Stephanie.

As reprehensible as piracy is, there are legitimate sites that offer no-cost, copyright free e-copies of older works, like Dracula, Frankenstein and thousands of others.

There are also sites where legitimate e-copies can be purchased and downloaded for copyrighted works.

Illegal e-copies are just as easy to obtain, once you find them, which is all too easy.

-Wapitikev

In the U.S., copyrights can be renewed.

The original copyright is good for 28 years, and the renewal is good for another 47 years -- 75 years total.

And even that can be extended for another 20 years.

THE KEEP was copyrighted in 1981, and I'm sure Paul has renewed the copyright which would have expired last year.

But the Library of congress is often quite slow in publishing which copyrights have been renewed.

Better check with Paul about the copyright extension.

I'm sure you're right Kev, that "download" is probably illegal.

Ken V.

That's how US copyright law worked prior to 1978.

In 1978, the U.S. revised the U.S.Copyright Act so that the duration of a copyright on a work was life of the Author plus 70 years, so as to be in compliance with the Berne Convention. The same act also did away with mandatory registration to receive copyright protection (althogh registration with the LOC still confers some siginifcant benefits when it comes to enforcement)

Yes, Canada has pirates too.

-Wapitikev

Not them, they are respecting Canadian law, with even a page where visitors can check if their country laws allow downloading or not.

Apparently, I could read on-line but not download some books, because they were still copyrighted in France but not elsewhere.

Hey, damn, they are out of print and one of them had never even been printed in a book, only as episodes in a magazine published in the early 30's... what's one supposed to do?

Not them, they are respecting Canadian law, with even a page where visitors can check if their country laws allow downloading or not.

Apparently, I could read on-line but not download some books, because they were still copyrighted in France but not elsewhere.

Hey, damn, they are out of print and one of them had never even been printed in a book, only as episodes in a magazine published in the early 30's... what's one supposed to do?

Hmmn. Canadian copyright law must have changed (or be different for non-Canadian authors than for Canadian ones). Time to go update my knowledge on the current time-frames, here.

-Wapitikev

I can see the point when the book it out of print and people are deseperately seeking to know what happened between the 3rd and the 5th book, or want to reread a book they read when kids and can't find anymore.

Here, the general copyright rules are 75 years after death for French authors and 50 years after death for foreign authors, no renewal needed. I've found books that were still copyrighted here for download at various Canadian sites.

Canadian Copyright law currently has a "life plus 50" rule for all Canadian, USA and Mexican authors (due to the NAFTA).

For all non-Canadian authors outside of the US and Mexico, the rule is "life plus 50 OR the duration in the law of their home-country, whichever is less" which is why French works are copyright free here, 25 years prior to them being that way in France.

Sorry, Lysis.

-Wapitikev