Question about PDF Books

Wormsaregood · 01-02-2010, 01:50 PM

Hey everyone,

I have a question about downloading PDF books from websites. What is the legality of downloading PDF versions of books if A) you own them or B) you don't own them? I've done some researching on google and all I can find is a link like this

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/liabil...-download.html

where it's just some guy who seems to be answering another guy. I'm really not quite sure where the legality lies, although my gut tells me that its definitely wrong for B, but morally ok for A. Is there anyone with concrete details on this subject?

Thanks

frabjous · 01-03-2010, 11:34 AM

Are you asking a moral question or a legal question?

And downloading how? If there's a website offering the book for free download, either they have a license to provide it that way, in which case I don't see any issue at all, or they don't, in which case I'd think the legal liability is mainly on their side, not on you as downloader (though don't take that advice too seriously).

Wormsaregood · 01-03-2010, 12:25 PM

I'm asking a legal question. I was merely speculating on the morality of the second part, as I personally believe once you own a book you should be able to download it in whatever mediums you choose, but I have no idea regarding the legality, except perhaps audiobook because there's a lot more to that.

As for the downloading, I would imagine that some of the websites, like with links to download sites like rapid and whatnot, probably do not have the licenses to distribute the books.

01-02-2010, 01:50 PM	#1
Wormsaregood Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle	Question about PDF Books Hey everyone, I have a question about downloading PDF books from websites. What is the legality of downloading PDF versions of books if A) you own them or B) you don't own them? I've done some researching on google and all I can find is a link like this http://www.webmaster-talk.com/liabil...-download.html where it's just some guy who seems to be answering another guy. I'm really not quite sure where the legality lies, although my gut tells me that its definitely wrong for B, but morally ok for A. Is there anyone with concrete details on this subject? Thanks

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01-03-2010, 11:34 AM	#2
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	Are you asking a moral question or a legal question? And downloading how? If there's a website offering the book for free download, either they have a license to provide it that way, in which case I don't see any issue at all, or they don't, in which case I'd think the legal liability is mainly on their side, not on you as downloader (though don't take that advice too seriously).

01-03-2010, 12:25 PM	#3
Wormsaregood Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle	I'm asking a legal question. I was merely speculating on the morality of the second part, as I personally believe once you own a book you should be able to download it in whatever mediums you choose, but I have no idea regarding the legality, except perhaps audiobook because there's a lot more to that. As for the downloading, I would imagine that some of the websites, like with links to download sites like rapid and whatnot, probably do not have the licenses to distribute the books.

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