Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsunami
In that case, I did pirate the 2013 edition through the WBM, as I found out about about it several days after its release. The page has now completely been removed from Rampant Loon Press, which makes that book harder to find.
Damn. And there I thought I had a completely pirate-free library.
(On the other hand, maybe downloading a cover and using it in a book to replace a low-res one (or add one if there isn't one) can be considered piracy of artwork as well... Maybe I'll just go back to paper books. Much easier  ) |
If you are are "Rules are rules" purist, then yes, downloading cover art is "piracy". It's covered under copyright and the artist didn't give you permission to make a copy.
If you go by the most restrictive definition of piracy (i.e. using copyrighted material without explicit permission), then pretty much everyone is a pirate. It's just that some people tend to apply the term unequally. It's piracy if you go back and grab a copy of an ebook that isn't available elsewhere to fill out your series, but it isn't piracy if they grab a piece of cover art, or exchange recipes with friends (if they got it from a book, newspaper or website, then it's covered under copyright law, though in a broader sense, recipes is a prime example of why allowing works to go into public domain is important).
Personally, I look at the intent, which is to encourage an artist to produce more by making sure they get paid for their work. If I can buy it from a legit ebook store, then I will. If I can't and I already have a paper version, I figure that that artist got his or her money. Heck, I even have a few works were I paid for the hardback, paperback, ebook, audiobook and movie. There is even one author who I donate money to. That's how artist got paid in the old days, they had patrons.