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Old 01-29-2017, 04:03 AM   #27
latepaul
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Yes it's piracy i.e. copyright infringement. You're making a copy of a copyrighted work without the copyright owner's permission (and without any fair use defence).

Getting a copy from the WBM is not "getting it from the official site, even if it's an old version." WBM is not an actual time machine it's a website. A different website from the original official site with a copy of the original pages.

Also "I want it and there's no other way to get it" does not excuse you breaking the law. If you find out the last few copies of an out-of-print, formerly free, paper-only book are in a warehouse down the street are you justified in stealing one? Of course not.

(Before anyone jumps in, I'm not saying copyright infringement and theft are identical, my analogy only relies on the fact that they are both illegal)

Now if what you're really asking is - is this ethical? then I'd say, probably, but it's up to the individual to decide. Really the two questions I'd ask myself are: am I likely to be pursued over this? (No, if anyone is it'll be WBM) and am I OK with it? (probably. But as someone whose job relies on copyright I'd want to be really sure they wasn't a legal way to purchase a copy. And if there wasn't but then later it became available for sale again, I'd feel duty bound to buy a copy.)
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