--- "Axel B. Corlu" <axelbcorlu@...> wrote:
>
> In other words, no copying or sharing for those who do not want to.
> Ever shared a book at university? Ever copied the whole thing? I did,
> and still do, without so-called "moral" problems. I guess my ethics
> are different. All support to you, Andrew Miller.
>
There's a difference between "sharing" something, and copying it for
the express intention of giving it to others without acknowledging the
legal owner.

Sharing something means that no additional copies are generated, and
the material which you purchased (the book) changes hands. However,
the document itself -- and there is a difference between "book" and
"document" -- cannot change hands. That is, the book you own is a
legal copy of the document (the words on the page). I can resell this,
gift it to someone, whatever... But copying the document itself, and
giving it to someone else, you violate copyright law -- that is, the
express legal authority for the owner of the document to make,
distribute and charge for copies of the document itself. Every book
you buy is a legal copy of a document -- but owning it, does not give
you any rights to the text on the page.

Now, under U.S. (and presumably International) copyright laws, one is
allowed to make copies of the document for certain purposes. One is
for personal use. That means, you can make a copy of the book for your
own use, especially if you wish to preserve the original. You may also
use it for educational purposes, copying specific sections that will be
used as a teaching aid. But, the simple copying and distribution of
the document is a very illegal thing to do. You can argue "morals" all
you want -- but copying and distributing the document free of charge
deprives the publisher, author and/or owner (if its a surviving
relative, or someone else who purchased the rights from the author) of
the document of just compensation. How would you like it if I walked
into your place of work and took your paycheck, and you never saw a
dime?

Violating copyright is theft, pure and simple. The document is the
property of someone else. The book you own, is a legal copy of that
document, and you ONLY have the rights to the ownership of the book
itself.


-Brian D. Schenck

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