Is Scribd legal?

onerubberducky · 01-22-2009, 04:35 PM

I am a proud owner of a new Sony 505. Just started playing around with some of it's features. To my surprise and joy I see that it is easy to download from Scribd. So many of the books there are contemporary and ones that I could buy at the bookstore (and I think with the copyright still operating, not public domain). Is it legal to download them? I hope so. I love the more esoteric books that are more rare and expensive to buy and they are there for free.

Patricia · 01-22-2009, 04:47 PM

No, quite often these book uploads are violating that author's copyright.
See this thread.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36978

onerubberducky · 01-22-2009, 06:24 PM

How do you find out if something is copyrighted or not? For example today I downloaded some of Carl Jung's books. Was that legal? Isn't Scribd supposed to remove copyrighted material.

Sparrow · 01-22-2009, 06:44 PM

There is information in the FAQ section of the Scribd site that addresses copyright isues; the onus seems to be on users to not upload iffy stuff in the first place, and to report iffy stuff that does appear. One section says:

"What types of items are not allowed on Scribd?

You may not upload content for which you do not have the necessary legal permission. Always be aware of a document's copyright status. You may be held responsible for copyright violations.
Scribd is for the publication of personal documents only. You may not use Scribd for HTML advertising and search engine optimization.
You may not upload any content considered illegal in the United States.
Scribd does not permit racist or hateful content.

If you see content that violates these terms, please use Scribd's document flagging system and the document will be reviewed. Be sure to read our Terms of Service for more information."

onerubberducky · 01-22-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks, I don't download illegal music and I don't want to download illegal books either.

AnemicOak · 01-22-2009, 07:31 PM

What makes Scribd tuff is that some publishers have been using it to make free promo copies of some of their authors books available on it so sometimes uploads of more current stuff are legit.

pdurrant · 01-23-2009, 04:22 AM

Carl Jung died in 1961. His works won't be out of copyright in most of the world until 2032, in Canada and some other parts of the world until 2012, and in the US it's more complicated. Anything he published in the US before 1923 is public domain in the US. Anything else may or may not be copyright until 2019 depending on whether the copyright was renewed.

Copyright lengths are horribly complicated in the US, and far too long everywhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onerubberducky

How do you find out if something is copyrighted or not? For example today I downloaded some of Carl Jung's books. Was that legal? Isn't Scribd supposed to remove copyrighted material.

HarryT · 01-23-2009, 05:48 AM

"Scribd" do not appear to be very vigilant in purging illegal material from their site. I would suggest taking great care in what you download, and checking whether or not it is in the public domain in your country.

mtravellerh · 01-23-2009, 07:35 AM

In short: It is up to you to check what is legal or not. Personally, I think that Scribd's ways are very dangerous and that they won't go on like that for long. (I even saw a book by Patricia Briggs there!)

01-22-2009, 04:35 PM	#1
onerubberducky Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony reader 505	Is Scribd legal? I am a proud owner of a new Sony 505. Just started playing around with some of it's features. To my surprise and joy I see that it is easy to download from Scribd. So many of the books there are contemporary and ones that I could buy at the bookstore (and I think with the copyright still operating, not public domain). Is it legal to download them? I hope so. I love the more esoteric books that are more rare and expensive to buy and they are there for free.

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01-22-2009, 04:47 PM	#2
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	No, quite often these book uploads are violating that author's copyright. See this thread. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36978

01-22-2009, 06:24 PM	#3
onerubberducky Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony reader 505	How do you find out if something is copyrighted or not? For example today I downloaded some of Carl Jung's books. Was that legal? Isn't Scribd supposed to remove copyrighted material.

01-22-2009, 06:44 PM	#4
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	There is information in the FAQ section of the Scribd site that addresses copyright isues; the onus seems to be on users to not upload iffy stuff in the first place, and to report iffy stuff that does appear. One section says: "What types of items are not allowed on Scribd? You may not upload content for which you do not have the necessary legal permission. Always be aware of a document's copyright status. You may be held responsible for copyright violations. Scribd is for the publication of personal documents only. You may not use Scribd for HTML advertising and search engine optimization. You may not upload any content considered illegal in the United States. Scribd does not permit racist or hateful content. If you see content that violates these terms, please use Scribd's document flagging system and the document will be reviewed. Be sure to read our Terms of Service for more information."

01-22-2009, 07:18 PM	#5
onerubberducky Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony reader 505	Thanks, I don't download illegal music and I don't want to download illegal books either.

01-22-2009, 07:31 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	What makes Scribd tuff is that some publishers have been using it to make free promo copies of some of their authors books available on it so sometimes uploads of more current stuff are legit.

01-23-2009, 05:48 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"Scribd" do not appear to be very vigilant in purging illegal material from their site. I would suggest taking great care in what you download, and checking whether or not it is in the public domain in your country.

01-23-2009, 07:35 AM	#9
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,657 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: Kindle Scribe	In short: It is up to you to check what is legal or not. Personally, I think that Scribd's ways are very dangerous and that they won't go on like that for long. (I even saw a book by Patricia Briggs there!)

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