Using "alternative" sources to obtain books you already own?

[Rich_D]

I used torrents to get copies of books I already owned, then I donated and gave away the physical books.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you think that buying a hardback book gives you the right to a free paperback? The argument that buying a paper book gives you the right to a free eBook completely eludes me, I'm afraid!

It seems to me to depend on what you think that you're buying - the content or the container. Personally, once I've paid an artist for a work by buying it at some point, I feel somewhat ripped off when I have to pay full price again in order to format shift. I felt that buying things on vinyl, then cassette, then CD, then remastered CD, etc. was a bit much. At least once they are on CD I can shift formats digitally.

For books, I've bought books that I have on paper again as ebooks (I recently bought the Hobbit again, for example, of which we have at least two paper copies). If the book is cheap enough, I'll buy it again for convenience. I can sympathise, however, with people deciding to get an unpaid digital copy when they have the same content on paper, especially if the ebook is unavailable to them or very expensive.

[HarryT]

Folks,

Please keep this discussion polite. Personal attacks are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Disagree with the viewpoint, but don't attack the person.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

[Moderating Team]

[ManosHandsOfFate]

To me, if I'm going through all the work of digitizing a book (not an insignificant task with consumer-grade scanners), I might as well just grab it from the Darknet. Same result, much less work.

I wonder how many people who have never used the 'Darknet' would be inclined to use it if it were extremely easy to use and there was no chance of getting caught.

I imagine there's a population of readers who don't have an ethical issue with using the 'Darknet' but at the same time are intimidated by a new and potentially dangerous activity.

[Lemurion]

I know there are books which I've bought new in paper, used in paper, and in electronic format.

So, while I don't like paying twice for the same content, I will do it. However this is only possible when there is a legal electronic edition available.

The real question for me, is what do people do when the book is both out of print and unavailable electronically? Especially when they do own a paper copy. That's the situation where I think more people would be likely to accept even if they don't condone most uses of the darknet.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

But thousands upon thousands of wrongs done over countless decades to countless authors is okay, as long as it's done for profit? Screw the publishers, screw 'em hard. I can't wait for the day the whole rotten mess collapses in on itself.

And that is justification how?

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

I used torrents to get copies of books I already owned, then I donated and gave away the physical books.

How does owning a physical book when you downloaded the equivalent e-book jusrify keeping the e-book when you donated the physical book afterward?

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

How does owning a physical book when you downloaded the equivalent e-book jusrify keeping the e-book when you donated the physical book afterward?

The book was paid for. He isn't making money off it when he gives away the physical book.

[Bateman]

Some people are just like parasites...

[Rich_D]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

How does owning a physical book when you downloaded the equivalent e-book jusrify keeping the e-book when you donated the physical book afterward?

I never said it did. After downloading the ebooks, I had no use for the physical copies so I got rid of them. A question was asked, I answered it.

[catsittingstill]

Up to now I have handled this issue by keeping my old paper books and generally not obtaining copies of books I already own.

I made a few exceptions for authors I *really* love and bought new copies of their books. I made a few more exceptions for books that I liked that are available from the Baen Free Library. So far I haven't bothered to get rid of the corresponding paper books, though :-)

I haven't done anything to "format shift for free" (either scanning my paper books or going to the darknet) because it seems like rather a lot of effort and I'm lazy--I mean, busy, that's it, busy; I have other things I want to do with my life.

The day that DRM keeps me from using an e-book I paid for, that will probably change pretty fast.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

I used torrents to get copies of books I already owned, then I donated and gave away the physical books.

That is 100% illegal.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That is 100% illegal.

Could you explain how that is legal?

[yekim54]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Could you explain how that is legal?

Somebody needs new reading glasses.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by yekim54

Somebody needs new reading glasses.

Would you then be so kind as to either answer the question or link to the answer until I am able to get new reading glasses?