Interesting thread. I happen to like ebooks (much easier to read on a treadmill), but would not like being deprived of entitled income if I was the author/publisher.

The discussion of the various copyright laws is unfortunately of no consequence since there are many countries (like Russia and China) that don't have the same rules. And with the internet there are plenty of sites available to download books/movies/music/etc. without consequence. Some of these sites even make it appear as if the downloading is legal. (Yes perhaps in the country where the site server is located, but not everywhere.)
If you want to read some really "interesting" discussions and opinions on piracy, log on to some gaming sites. (Especially the sites set up for ROM downloading!!!)
Steve

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

I... ha hem... read them on-line, since it is allowed. Yessir.

And who's going to check my computer anyway?

I... ha hem... read them on-line, since it is allowed. Yessir.

And who's going to check my computer anyway?

Reading them is not illegal, otherwise every library on the planet would be abolished.

As to your question, lots of people can check my computer.

However, I have found that I am the only one capable of checking my conscience.

-Wapitikev

My conscience says that between spending a few seconds downloading out of print (and one never printed) books and spending months scouring every second-hand book shop with no garanty of result, I did the right choice...

My conscience says that between spending a few seconds downloading out of print (and one never printed) books and spending months scouring every second-hand book shop with no garanty of result, I did the right choice...

As much as possible, I try not confuse my problem-solving skills with my conscience.

-Wapitikev

Any self-respecting fan, of which the members of this board should all be, would not steal the sweat off FPW's back by pirating his work. If you deserve to be paid for your work, then so does FPW.

What if you buy a copy from eBay? Does that you should can no longer call yourself a fan of FPW and maintain any self-respect?

:confused:

What if you buy a copy from eBay? Does that you should can no longer call yourself a fan of FPW and maintain any self-respect?

:confused:

Hi, Bones!

Good to hear from you again. It seems like ages.

My post, from which you drew your quote, makes plain that buying a used copy (on e-bay or from a used bookstore) is a perfectly copyright-legal method of gaining FPWs hard work. I even recommend used paperbacks as a possible "backup" method.

At some point, FPW was paid for the physical copy.

My statement was specifically about e-copies of FPW's work that were not sold by FPW (or an agent thereof) as an e-copy.

I also discussed e-backups of a physical edition...an e-copy that differs from the the physical edition that a person owns is not a "copy" of their edition...it is a copy of another edition...one they do not own.

Until FPW says that he condones uncompensated e-copies of his work, fans should respect his wish that people pay for a copy of it (new or used) before owning an uncompensated e-copy.

Ultimately, your own self respect is your own affair.

-Wapitikev

A used copy is an item licensed to a publisher for sale; as an object it is someone's property which he may dispose of in any way he wishes.

An unlicensed e-copy is different. Someone is setting himself up as my publisher and distributing copies of my work without my permission and without compensation.

without my permission and without compensation.

In a word . . . theft.

Ken V.

A used copy is an item licensed to a publisher for sale; as an object it is someone's property which he may dispose of in any way he wishes.

An unlicensed e-copy is different. Someone is setting himself up as my publisher and distributing copies of my work without my permission and without compensation.

So a second hand book is sold as a book shaped artifact, which is not stealing the inteelectual sweat from your brow?