Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Ok, let me explain further:
The library buys a licence to lend out a certain number of copies of the book simultaneously. For the sake of illustration, let's suppose it's 3 copies.
3 people borrow the book, including you, but you remove the DRM from your copy. Your loan expires, and the next person in the queue borrows the book. The library has only purchased a licence for 3 copies of the book, but there are now 4 readable copies: the 3 that are legitimately lent out, and your DRM-stripped copy. You have no legal right to retain your copy beyond the loan period. You are committing copyright infringement if you do so.
|
I agree. You can rationalize doing it for the reasons given - but two wrongs don't make a right. Also the ease of removing the drm is partly why publishers are charging libraries so much - so in the end stripping the drm hurts the average library user - not the "unfair" publisher.
That said - many people won't abide by the honour system, because they feel many publishers are not acting honourably. As several people have said in this thread- charging $12 for the ebook, when the paperback is $8 is unjustifiable.
To me, libraries are close to sacred - so I won't break their rules. But I do feel incensed by the despicable gouging publishers are subjecting libraries to. It's unconscionable.
End of rant.