Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
Jellby argues that we don't "know" the author's intent--but the one damn thing we do have is the actual, physical book from which the scans were made. At some point, we have to make certain assumptions and to me, if a book has made it into print, that gives it some degree of gravitas. If naught else, someone, somewhere, put some amount of hard-earned into the publication, which in and of itself, created some amount of "rights."
Hitch
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I am glad that I have at least one supporter here - thank you, Jellby!
What I do not understand is why editing is only allowed to publishers of printed books (where, we agree, it has always happened), but not to a publisher of ebooks? Or is it simply money, that buys this right? A company is allowed to do it, but not a person? When the book is sold, it's ok, but when it is offered for free, it isn't?
When I "rewrite" a book - usually, that means modernizing the spelling of a few words, fix some punctuation issues, and, in some cases, add my own explanatory footnotes - I do not force other digital editions, for instance Gutenberg's, off the Internet. So, what is the problem?
Anyone who wants to read the digital version of a printed book can still do so, I'm not substituting my edition for theirs - I just offer an alternative, and am always open about the editing that I have done. No reason to give me the welcome I'd expect from a Bible study group if I walked in and asked how to chant Hail Satan. What I have learned from this discussion, of course, is not to ask for help with my work here.