Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
What about when the content isn't available for purchase except on the secondary market--e.g., a out-of-print VHS or cassette tape? Buying it used (assuming you have the equipment needed to play it) and format-shifting doesn't benefit the creator one bit. And while searching for a copy, you see that someone has already format-shifted and uploaded the material, and it's available for the taking. Still wrong?
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In the US, there is something called first sales doctrine, which says that the copyright owner only controls the first sale, the purchaser has the legal right to sell it to someone else if they wish as long as they don't make a copy. My previous example is freely available content over the air waves. A somewhat different situation than a work that was sold, but now is no longer available.
My personally feeling is that once a work is not made available to the public, then the copyright owner is violating the spirit of the copyright law, i.e. is longer providing public good. That opinion and five bucks will buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks!
