Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
Suggestions for a new term welcome. I'd prefer it not to be a term for an existing crime — so not piracy or bootlegging.
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Would you accept "Booklegging" ?
There are several problems with trying to unify both attitudes and practice regarding books. One is that we are already used to an existing system with print books whereby we can legally share a physical book as freely as we like and then even resell it. Furthermore we have a fully sanctioned library system that allows free use of books and often even provides photocopying equipment to assist in copying text. There are usually rules on the degree of copying allowed but I've not seen them effectively policed.
Even the language is misleading. We refer to a "copy" of a book even when we mean a legally purchased physical volume.
A further problem comes when you try and sort out what is basically a commercial wish-list (largely a bluff if you like) and what is the actual law in your particular country. I once spent a week ringing round everybody from retailers to the police, consumer groups, law firms etc to find out what the local laws are regarding computer games (the EULA's attempt to set very tight restrictions which are widely ignored). The police weren't interested and NOBODY was able to tell me what the law was. The nearest I got was the Law Society offering to provide me with a list of firms that I could hire to mount a test case in court!
The answer turned out to be that, in practice, it's a commercial matter and the wholesalers had to look after their own interests in whatever way they saw fit. Some pressured retailers not to trade second hand games, but most didn't bother and concentrated on attracting new sales during the peak interest time.
eBooks seem to be going down a similar path. Most people will follow whatever their personal morality says, and local law enforcers won't have the time, interest or capacity to do much about it. I strongly prefer to pay my way, but I'll make my own mind up about issues such as DRM, mutual lending, fair use of material for 'demonstration' purposes etc.
Cheers,
Chris