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Originally Posted by wizwor
I believe lending amongst friends is generally unauthorized. Is that covered by fair use?
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It's legal. What is
not legal is duplicating a copy to give to a friend.
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Originally Posted by wizwor
Can I share a DVD with a friend legally?
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Yes
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Originally Posted by wizwor
What if it is a backup? Or a digital copy?
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No
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Originally Posted by wizwor
Can I share it off my PC if I limit access to the shared area?
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Yes
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Originally Posted by wizwor
If so, what restrictions must be applied?
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That depends entirely on what is granted by the rights-holder. Generally speaking though, you can make copies for personal use, and libraries can make copies for archival purposes, but you cannot duplicate and distribute the work without authorization.
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Originally Posted by wizwor
If you pick up my kindle and read a book I purchased is that OK? What if my college kid watches Netflix with his friends using my account? What if he is not in the room? Can I loan an iPad full of copyrighted materials to a friend?
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Yes
yes
yes
yes
Y'know, it'd be nice if you actually understood copyright laws before proclaiming that libraries violate them....
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Originally Posted by wizwor
I'm not opposed to lending of materials at all. I'm simply opposed to separate standards.
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Separate standards for ebook library loans make sense, because libraries perform a specific public function.
It doesn't make sense to limit an individual who reads a book to 26 reading sessions. It makes much more sense to limit a library to 26 lendings, and then charge a reduced rate for the next 26 lendings.
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Originally Posted by wizwor
PS it's completely naive to suggest that libraries protect IP. The only difference between a public library and a torrent web site is that libraries protect their 'pirates' privacy better than internet service providers.
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Librarians are not going to help you photocopy an entire book or rip a DVD. Beyond supervising your conduct in the library, it really isn't their job to police copyright.
Libraries respect IP laws; torrents do not. Libraries are structured to restrict access to their community; torrents don't want to restrict anything. Libraries are courted by publishers, because it's more exposure for their titles; pirates revel in putting one over on the publishers.
I might add that if we follow this logic, commercial services like Netflix or Blockbuster also "enable piracy." A DVD is a DVD is a DVD; the disc you rent from Blockbuster for $2 carries no additional protections than the one from the library; and both Blockbuster and libraries pay for the materials they dispense. In fact, if we take your position seriously that loans constitute piracy, wouldn't Blockbuster be worse -- since they profit from enabling piracy?