Kbook: My new favourite rip-off "publisher"

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by murg

The license is completely useless if it isn't protecting something that is copyrightable in your country.

In the US, this license has no effect, unless there is some original content, not just formatting.

I do put some original content in the ebook. There is always some information about the original source - an 'About this edition' section.

[murg]

Come on, guys, just do what everyone else does: just send DMCA take-down notices to Kobo.

[STrucks]

Even if there's no real legal recourse, there could at least be a page added to all future ebooks stating that it is available for free on mobileread.com. Maybe even state that if they purchased the book they should request a refund.

I'm considering using the review section on some of those books on Kobo to point out they're available for free here and include a link. At least it may dissuade some from wasting their money.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

But almost all original ebooks I've prepared for the MobileRead library have typos, and I correct them. I also change spelling from time to time (ankle instead of ancle for example) and make hyphen usage etc conform to modern usage. Does that not count?

I have seen an edition of one of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's stories which has been edited - I don't remember the details - and the editor clearly claims copyright on her version. Perhaps I should make it more clear that I have made some changes to the text.

The work cannot be copyrighted just because of small changes. When I file a book for copyright, it may not be the final version (there may be typos corrected). But the instructions are fairly clear in that I am copyrighting the work--not exact words here and there. When/if a judge has to determine if someone "stole" a book, just changing character names (for example) does not protect the thief. So in your case, just fixing a few items does not mean it is now a copyrightable work.

A thief can even change entire scenes or delete some, but if the judge determines the book is "largely" the original with derivative characters/settings, the thief will have a hard time proving he/she didn't lift the work, try to disguise it and then try to sell it.

Now, again, that said, licensing a book is different than copyright. So if you put a creative commons license wording in there, you are largely setting up to tell the readers what you did and what you intend its use to be. The protection it affords you isn't so much legal, it's more like a watermark--so that if you wish to contact a retailer and ask them to "desist" in sales of the copy, you have some manner of showing you are the original "re-creator" of the item.

Every retailer I have contacted for something similar has taken the items down. Amazon has a policy in place that specifically mentions they do not want public domain works. B&N and Amazon BOTH have check boxes for "Is this public domain?" Because if you check yes, you have to state why it is a saleable copy (as in, I added actual material to enhance the original--something that is copyrightable as original work). I can't recall if Kobo has that, but I think they do. I can check if anyone cares.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

But almost all original ebooks I've prepared for the MobileRead library have typos, and I correct them. I also change spelling from time to time (ankle instead of ancle for example) and make hyphen usage etc conform to modern usage. Does that not count?

I have seen an edition of one of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's stories which has been edited - I don't remember the details - and the editor clearly claims copyright on her version. Perhaps I should make it more clear that I have made some changes to the text.

In order for a new copyright to apply the changes would have to be transformative such as mash-ups like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, at least in most countries I can think of.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

So far as I know, but remember that I designed it after my first visit to the Creative Commons site and I'm certainly not an expert.

My purpose in posting it was to get feedback from those who know more it about than I do, and to see whether it's worth using. If you want it it's yours.

Ok. Thanks. I asked because I didn't want to assume and accidentally violate your copyright as its creator.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by crich70

Ok. Thanks. I asked because I didn't want to assume and accidentally violate your copyright as its creator.

Thanks. You might be interested in the attached version 2. I have taken out the reference to MobileRead library since I didn't want to seem as though I was speaking for MobileRead, and have placed on record that the ebook contains original work - over and above fixing typos etc.

I'm thinking of putting this or something similar on the post one does to introduce the ebook, but will check with a moderator first to see if that's acceptable.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Every retailer I have contacted for something similar has taken the items down. Amazon has a policy in place that specifically mentions they do not want public domain works. B&N and Amazon BOTH have check boxes for "Is this public domain?" Because if you check yes, you have to state why it is a saleable copy (as in, I added actual material to enhance the original--something that is copyrightable as original work). I can't recall if Kobo has that, but I think they do. I can check if anyone cares.

Thanks for your information. I wonder if we are not looking at the same problem from different points of view. If I understand you correctly your 'take down notices' are aimed at removing stolen material once it has been uploaded to a commercial site. The licences I'm thinking about are aimed at discouraging people from taking the material in the first place. Both approaches may be needed.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks for your information. I wonder if we are not looking at the same problem from different points of view. If I understand you correctly your 'take down notices' are aimed at removing stolen material once it has been uploaded to a commercial site. The licences I'm think about are aimed at discouraging people from taking the material in the first place. Both approaches may be needed.

Yep, both are needed. The notices will make it easier for Kobo/etc. to see that something fishy (if not outright illegal) is going on from a seller. Then they'll be more likely to do something over the take down notices.

Even the removal of said notice will help, as it shows the seller is knowingly violating it.

[Keslynn]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks. You might be interested in the attached version 2. I have taken out the reference to MobileRead library since I didn't want to seem as though I was speaking for MobileRead, and have placed on record that the ebook contains original work - over and above fixing typos etc.

I'm thinking of putting this or something similar on the post one does to introduce the ebook, but will check with a moderator first to see if that's acceptable.

I personally think that leaving in something about MobileRead - like "a copy is available free of cost in the MobileRead library" - would be a good thing. It would make it easier for people to find the free copies instead of being scammed by "publishers" like this jerk. The consumer can request a refund and still get a copy of the book they wanted.

[GlennD]

Maybe a note at the end, too? Something to the effect of "hopefully you enjoyed this, there are more free books where this came from." These thieves may be less likely to look at the end to remove a notice than they are to remove it from the beginning.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by GlennD

Maybe a note at the end, too? Something to the effect of "hopefully you enjoyed this, there are more free books where this came from." These thieves may be less likely to look at the end to remove a notice than they are to remove it from the beginning.

Maybe put the image for the cc that Alex made near the front and back of the book? That way even if someone removes the image at the front they might not think to check for a 2nd copy of the image and would get caught easier.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks. You might be interested in the attached version 2. I have taken out the reference to MobileRead library since I didn't want to seem as though I was speaking for MobileRead, and have placed on record that the ebook contains original work - over and above fixing typos etc.

I'm thinking of putting this or something similar on the post one does to introduce the ebook, but will check with a moderator first to see if that's acceptable.

Nice.

[AlexBell]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I think my next moves will be to work out some way to mention the MobileRead library without giving offence, and then check with the moderator in the 'Upload Help' thread.

I'll try to put a post in this thread when I'm done.

[doubleshuffle]

I notice that someone has started writing reviews:

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eb...mber-at-chad-2
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eb...hlachtenmalers