A moral dilemma

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Angst

1. I bought a license to use Windows 7. It doesn't matter where the physical files come from.
2. I bought a license to the content of the book. It doesn't matter where the physical files come from.


Answer: Yes.
1. Because the files on my disk weren't physically mine, I am a thief.
2. Because the files on my disk weren't physically mine, I am a thief.

I think most people, including Microsoft, would agree that the answer to example 1, (Windows), is no. Why should the answer to example 2, (ebook), be any different?

Are you a thief? No, of course not. Whatever some people may like to pretend, copying an ebook is not theft.

Are you a criminal? Perhaps - it depends whether or not DRM removal is a crime where you live?

Have you broken your civil contract with the bookstore or library? Almost unquestionably yes.

But the primary question I'd ask is this: why on Earth didn't you have a backup of your data? Did you think "it'll never happen to me?" There are only two sorts of disks in the world - those that have crashed, and those which are about to crash.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But the primary question I'd ask is this: why on Earth didn't you have a backup of your data? Did you think "it'll never happen to me?" There are only two sorts of disks in the world - those that have crashed, and those which are about to crash.

This was answered further up the thread - the folder with the ebooks in was missing from the backup by mistake.

My 2c - there is no right answer, it depends on what you're comfortable doing.

I'm curious as to the distinction made between "morals" and "ethics" - is there a generally accepted difference? I would use them almost interchangeably. Perhaps ethics is a code of conduct, whereas morality is case by case? (e.g. is it morally right to break a code of ethics to save many people)

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Because I would not wish for him to say anything on an internet forum that could be legally acted upon by another party. (Or, for that matter, get him banned from MR.)

Right now, this is all a navel-gazing exercise on moral and ethics and navels.

So why are you so interested in what he did and in stopping further discourse. I suggest if you are tired of it to unsubscribe.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

This was answered further up the thread - the folder with the ebooks in was missing from the backup by mistake.

My 2c - there is no right answer, it depends on what you're comfortable doing.

I'm curious as to the distinction made between "morals" and "ethics" - is there a generally accepted difference? I would use them almost interchangeably. Perhaps ethics is a code of conduct, whereas morality is case by case? (e.g. is it morally right to break a code of ethics to save many people)

I agree, there is no right or wrong. We each have reasons for believing why our position is right or wrong.

[TGS]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I agree, there is no right or wrong. We each have reasons for believing why our position is right or wrong.

From the fact that there is no agreement on this thread about what is right and what is wrong it doesn't follow that there is no right or wrong.

[DiapDealer]

I'm deathly allergic to non sequiturs. Thanks for bringing that one to my attention.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by TGS

From the fact that there is no agreement on this thread about what is right and what is wrong it doesn't follow that there is no right or wrong.

That's true. Also, I didn't mean to imply that there is no right or wrong. My view, FWIW, is that there is no right answer about what is right and wrong. In other words, I don't think that right and wrong are meaningless concepts (quite the opposite), but there is not a universal moral standard "out there" to be discovered. We have to make our own standards (and do).

[cfrizz]

Ethics: A standard of behavior based on right & wrong.

Moral Values: One’s personal code of right & wrong.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But the primary question I'd ask is this: why on Earth didn't you have a backup of your data? Did you think "it'll never happen to me?" There are only two sorts of disks in the world - those that have crashed, and those which are about to crash.

He already answered this: he was backing up a directory regularly, but didn't realize that his Calibre library was not contained in that directory. I've done that.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by kennyc

So why are you so interested in what he did and in stopping further discourse. I suggest if you are tired of it to unsubscribe.

I'm not interested in stopping discourse, but I do believe that at this point there's nothing new left to say, and we're probably close to infringing the MR policy on DRM removal discussions (correct me if I'm wrong). If the OP really cares what was in his Fictionwise license agreement, this isn't the place to find out -- I would suggest that information would be at the Fictionwise site.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I'm not interested in stopping discourse, but I do believe that at this point there's nothing new left to say, and we're probably close to infringing the MR policy on DRM removal discussions (correct me if I'm wrong). If the OP really cares what was in his Fictionwise license agreement, this isn't the place to find out -- I would suggest that information would be at the Fictionwise site.

Yet you come back once again and tell us what to do. methinks you are enjoying it.

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I tried this with Fictionwise when Random House pulled several titles I had purchased from Fictionwise. I appealed to Fictionwise, several times. I appealed to Random House. Neither would give me access to the ebooks I had paid for. They still appear in my Fictionwise Bookshelf on my account, but when I try to download them there is an error message.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Your household insurance should certainly cover this. You've lost valuable property as the result of an accident; that's precisely what insurance is there for.

Apologies if this was raised in the last few pages...too many to go through.

I would be upset that the provider didn't allow access to the license and allow you to re-download. Perhaps the argument was floored or they are just bastards. (Sorry) But I'm sure the insurer will deny a claim because they should have been backed up. They are only responsible for the hard drive that died. Not the content.

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

That's true. Also, I didn't mean to imply that there is no right or wrong. My view, FWIW, is that there is no right answer about what is right and wrong. In other words, I don't think that right and wrong are meaningless concepts (quite the opposite), but there is not a universal moral standard "out there" to be discovered. We have to make our own standards (and do).

THEN MY HEAD BLEW UP

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yet you come back once again and tell us what to do. methinks you are enjoying it.

I'm not telling you what to do, or at least that's not my intention. You quoted me in a post, and I responded to clarify my intentions in the part you quoted. Is that the wrong thing for me to do?

I apologize. I won't respond anymore if you don't want me to. It's not my place to order people around; only to offer my opinion.

[Angst]

Originally Posted by wannabee

Apologies if this was raised in the last few pages...too many to go through.

I would be upset that the provider didn't allow access to the license and allow you to re-download. Perhaps the argument was floored or they are just bastards. (Sorry) But I'm sure the insurer will deny a claim because they should have been backed up. They are only responsible for the hard drive that died. Not the content.

Most of the books were bought before the agency 5 took over. I was able to download them at will. When the agency 5 model was adapted, this particlar store did not sign on, and I consequently lost the ability to re-download my books.