MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Moral and legal questions about using VPNs to avoid georestrictions

Hellmark · 08-17-2011, 11:39 AM

HarryT recently in another thread made mention about using VPNs to get around georestrictions to use Google Books, and it made me curious as to what you thought about it, and what legal issues may arise from it.

For example, I've been tempted to buy Bob Burke's The Ho Ho Ho Mystery from Waterstones, because in the UK the ebook sells for £0.49 (Roughly 80 cents US) where as in the US the same book from the same publisher (HarperCollins) sells for $19.99. Part of me is hesitant because Bob's been around MR, and always seemed cool when I talked with him, and I'd like the money to go to him. Of course, that part is at odds with the other part that is going "Dude! It is 25 times more expensive to buy in the US!" Would it be ethical to buy from the UK, where it is so much cheaper?

08-17-2011, 11:39 AM	#1
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Moral and legal questions about using VPNs to avoid georestrictions HarryT recently in another thread made mention about using VPNs to get around georestrictions to use Google Books, and it made me curious as to what you thought about it, and what legal issues may arise from it. For example, I've been tempted to buy Bob Burke's The Ho Ho Ho Mystery from Waterstones, because in the UK the ebook sells for £0.49 (Roughly 80 cents US) where as in the US the same book from the same publisher (HarperCollins) sells for $19.99. Part of me is hesitant because Bob's been around MR, and always seemed cool when I talked with him, and I'd like the money to go to him. Of course, that part is at odds with the other part that is going "Dude! It is 25 times more expensive to buy in the US!" Would it be ethical to buy from the UK, where it is so much cheaper? Last edited by Hellmark; 08-17-2011 at 11:48 AM.