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writeall Special user Midland, Michigan 930 Posts |
Someone sent me a link to download an ebook for free. The ebook includes this statement in the beginning:
"No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the written permission of the publisher." When I read that it appears to me to require that I get written permission from the publisher to download and store the ebook on my computer. I asked about it and the person who sent the link said it was just to prevent me redistributing it to third parties without authorization. Am I misreading it or does the boilerplate require written permission from the publisher? |
Tally_NSA Loyal user Essex, UK 222 Posts |
Quote:
On May 23, 2016, writeall wrote: You are misreading it. It is a standard copyright notice, which appears in almost all printed media: it says you cannot reproduce it (i.e. you cannot copy it); store it on an FTP site (such as a Torrent site) or any other type of retrieval system where people can access it; or transmit it by any means, such as a FAX machine or email. Downloading it and storing it on your personal computer, iPad, or Android device for personal use is perfectly fine without prior consent. |
writeall Special user Midland, Michigan 930 Posts |
Thanks. It sounds like I'm off the hook for the download then. Does it matter if the other person has permission or not? I mean, does it matter at my end, I assume it does at theirs.
Putting it another way, am I obligated to assure that the copy I am downloading is legit (has permissions)? |
Tally_NSA Loyal user Essex, UK 222 Posts |
Quote:
On May 23, 2016, writeall wrote: If you bought it from a site, and you download it from that same site, or download it from an affiliated site of the purchase site, then yes: you can "assume" it is legit. But, obviously, use your head about these things. |
writeall Special user Midland, Michigan 930 Posts |
It was a link to a free download. I have no way to tell if it is legit or not. The publisher's information does not appear in the work, so even if I wanted to get the vaunted "written permission," I couldn't.
Since I am not running afoul of the restrictions I posted by downloading it and having it stored in my computer, it seems the onus is on the person posting it for download - I'm in the clear. It would seem I could also share the link to the document (the link isn't copyrighted) as well, without that counting as "sharing" either, since I'm not transmitting the restricted material. It's all very confused from where I'm sitting. Not the intent - I get that. And not the ethical way forward, but the actual rules and how they are expressed. For instance, "stored in or introduced into a retrieval system" sure sounds like my hard drive and if not that, the material I store, but do not share, "in the cloud." If it simply said something like, "You are not allowed to share this with others," it would be much clearer. As far as notification goes, the US Copyright Office only mentions the copyright symbol, name of copyright holder and date of copyright. Apparently, the language I find so confusing adds no additional protection. |
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