|
Software, books and music are alike in that they can be copied digitally. What society and individuals regard as our fundamental rights has changed over the years.
One fundamental right that may have changed with eBooks is the right to pass them along to your heirs.
I say may, because I am not sure that you cannot pass them on to one of your heirs when you die as there is no possibility of your retaining a copy you can use when you are dead at least as I see it.
The big issue is multiple copies going to multiple people, in an unending chain of events. Bob gives to Harry and Jane, they give to Sue and Tom and George and Amanda and in a matter of days there are a lot of unpaid for copies floating around.
Sure Sue and Tom and George and Amanda could all pirate, but chances are that 3 out of 4 of them won't.
Still many people see no difference between 'lending' a book to one person or two+ at the same time which is not something that we could always do and this is what the publishers fear I think.
Most people are pretty honest, but if they do not know it is wrong what is to stop them. How many actually read the copyright page?
And while I would never break into anyone's home or business to steal something, I do not leave my door unlocked in the belief that no-one would ever dream of breaking into mine or expect it from anyone else.
Helen
|