Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbone
I don't know the particulars. You would need to review the court cases that IA has won.
My opinion, from what I remember, is that as a registered library they are entitled to exemptions for scholarly study. It's been established that they can post an ebook for lending if they have a print version. Other books can be available for online viewing only. I may be wrong about this as I didn't delve too deep into the matter.
The library designation is important. For example, a library is a government entity and as such is treated differently than say a torrent site or even Gutenberg. The example being that a copyright holder demanding IA or OL to remove their book would be the same as them walking into the New York Public Library and demanding their books be destroyed. Would the government agree to their demands?
This doesn't excuse the copyrighted uploads from the general public.
|
If libraries are allowed to lend ebooks just because they have the same book in print, OverDrive would be out of business and libraries wouldn't be having budget crises.