Troubleshooting Forwarding a Kindle book to another user

[Zippity]

If I download a book from Amazon for my Kindle Touch, am I allowed to forward that same book to another user to read on his Kindle for PC, or Kindle?

If so, what format do I use to forward it?

If not, am I being naughty and breaking some rules/understandings?

[Kumabjorn]

Lending is now possible. You can't read it yourself while lending it to someone, just like with a paper book.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Lending is now possible. You can't read it yourself while lending it to someone, just like with a paper book.

Lending is only possible with a limited selection of books, where the publisher allows it, and only for users in the United States. The poster is in New Zealand, hence lending is not available to him.

To the original poster: No, unless the book is in the public domain, it would be copyright infringement for you to send your friend a copy of a book that you've bought, because in the process of lending it, you're creating an extra copy of the book.

The only situation in which it can be done is if your friend's Kindle is registered to the same Amazon account that yours is. That way, you and he will be able to share all your books.

[Kumabjorn]

Surely, lending rights will be extended to the rest of us?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Surely, lending rights will be extended to the rest of us?

I would hope so, but that's not currently the position, unfortunately.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Surely, lending rights will be extended to the rest of us?

No doubt this will require negotiations with the publishers in every country.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

No doubt this will require negotiations with the publishers in every country.

Why? I don't recall the need for any permission from publishers to lend my buddies some of my books. Even those that weren't returned.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Why? I don't recall the need for any permission from publishers to lend my buddies some of my books. Even those that weren't returned.

That's because, when you lend someone a paper book, you aren't creating an additional copy of the book, so copyright law doesn't enter into it. When you "lend" someone an e-book, unless you lend them your reading device with the book already on it, you're creating an extra copy of the book which didn't previously exist, hence copyright law comes into play, and you need the permission of the appropriate rights-holders to be able to do so.

[Kumabjorn]

But not, surely, if it disappears from device while someone is lending it?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

But not, surely, if it disappears from device while someone is lending it?

You might reasonably think so, and I'd agree with you. The rights-holders may think otherwise unfortunately.

At the end of the day, all any of us can do is what seems ethical to us as individuals, even if that does at times conflict with the letter of the law.

[vxf]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

But not, surely, if it disappears from device while someone is lending it?

Leave all reason behind, when you enter the land of copyright law.

Maybe googling "Apprentice Alf" could help you.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by vxf

Leave all reason behind, when you enter the land of copyright law.

Maybe googling "Apprentice Alf" could help you.

I have

The gentle apprentice has been most helpful and I was amazed at how easy it actually was, not at all what I'd come to expect.

While that may serve my particular needs and the fact that I'm a veteran in front of a computer, it may not be as easy and simple for Jane Schmo. Me just thinks that an e-book should be treated exactly like a p-book. That is a fairly simple principle and it would increase the amount of users.

Most people when they see me with a Reader are very curious and ask a lot of questions. The last is always; Any drawbacks? Well, you can't lend out your books to friends and foe. Then that grin turns upside down.

So lending seems to be a feature more in demand that I thought possible.