Quote:
Originally Posted by Penforhire
In your poll you still need to distinguish between people who take for free and versus those who already own the p-book version. American fair use law is likely to, if it does not already, support that difference just as it does for MP3's ripped from CD's.
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I'm curious about this point being far from an expert on these laws myself. I'm wondering how much of a difference it makes if someone is exercising electronic rights and distributing an electronic copy. Do they make a distinction between the following scenarios (assuming that I already own a copy of the paper book):
1. I download a free copy someone scanned and posted. There is no other electronic copy available for purchase.
2. I download this scanned copy when there is a copy I could purchase. Someone has the electronic rights and I could compensate them but I haven't actually used the product of their labor. The holders of the electronic rights may include other parties than I originally compensated with my paper purchase I suppose.
3. I download a copy of the commercially-produced book without paying. It seems clear here that someone has done some value-added work to make that formatted copy and is expecting payment. I am taking that work without compensating them for their labor and resources.
Personally, I see my moral hazard differently in each case. I have no idea of my legal hazard.