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Old 02-02-2011, 02:22 PM   #325
pdurrant
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Location: Norfolk, England
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady View Post
Here's my question, and I really want to know the answer:

Why is it legally and morally acceptable for me to copy my own paper book to a digital file--just as I can rip mp3s from my own CDs--but not legally and morally acceptable for me to obtain a digital file of that same book from someone else?
Legally, it rather depends where you are. In the UK it's not currently legal to do any of the things you mention.

Morally, in my opinion, if you own a paper copy of the book in question, I see nothing wrong with obtaining a digital copy of that book from someone else, IF that digital copy came from a non-commercial scanning effort.

However, if it's a pirated copy of the commercial ebook, then (again, all IMO, as are all moral questions) there is something a little bit wrong with it, since the commercial publisher who created the ebook has spent money converting and formatting the ebook edition, and is entitled to some return on the expenditure.

The way I've handled this situation myself even goes a bit further. When a commercial ebook of an in-copyright work has appeared after I've obtained an unauthorised ebook copy of the paper books I own, I've bought the commercial ebook too. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings being specific examples.

YMMV*



*Your Morals May Vary
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