[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I agree with you 100%! However, with respect, the fact that one buys new books does not make it "OK" to also download "dodgy" ones, does it?

I don't recall his saying it did...

Exactly what I said in another thread only yesterday: PRC/LRF, etc, for reading formats, but HTML, RTF, or even text, if nothing else is available, for long-term archival. It's only DRM'd stuff I choose to buy in Mobi format - given a choice, I always download, for example, Baen books in RTF or HTML.

And I choose to avoid the issue by not buying DRMed content.

Yes, you're right, of course - it's uploaders who are the criminals.

It takes two. I could theoretically convert and upload all manner of DRMed ebooks, or scan paper volumes to create unauthorized electronic copies, and upload the results. But it's meaningless unless a significant number of people download and read my offerings instead of buying a legitimate copy. If that happens, the content provider is losing revenue, and that prospect is what prompts them to go with DRM to begin with.

The problems are that it's probably not possible to go after the uploaders -- there are too many upload avenues and ways to do so anonymously -- and it's impossible to measure how many folks actually download pirated stuff instead of buying legitimate copies.

Properly speaking, the folks who download the ripped copies are receiving stolen goods, and also criminals.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with doing format conversions of stuff you've bought, regardless of what some silly law might say about it.

Nor do I, as long as you don't then share the files with others unless the original license says you may. But as a practical matter, if you are only converting for your own use, no one will care, even if the content provider becomes aware if it. It may be technically illegal, but it isn't worth the time and effort to enforce the law in that case.

One thing which does slightly puzzle me, however: if you believe it's OK to download eBooks of books you've already bought as paper books, but think that uploaders should be prosecuted for the criminal scum they are, where are you going to download these eBooks of yours from?

I think he's presuming something like the Baen Free Library. I have ebook versions for the library of books I also bought in hardcover. I'm happy to have both formats, as it maens I can read the content wherever I am, because I always have my PDA with my ebook library with me.

That's the argument I don't "get", I'm afraid. If I have a favourite paperback which I read again and again, I know that sooner or later it's going to fall to pieces and I'm going to have to buy a new copy. I don't expect the publisher to give me a discount simply because I've bought it previously. Likewise I don't see any reason why having bought a paper copy of a book should somehow entitle me to a free - or even discounted - copy of the eBook. But we've been through all this before - let's just agree that we differ on that point .

I don't expect to get a free ebook copy of something I have in paper. It's nice, and I take advantage of it where legitimate (the Baen Free Library, various stuff offered under a Creative Commons license), but it's not a burning issue for me.
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Dennis