Web Site that Offer Free eBook.....How can you

Barbara1955 · 09-27-2011, 01:37 AM

Tell IF they are Legal??

montsnmags · 09-27-2011, 01:46 AM

Most of the "illegal" websites are easily identified by what I'd call "broken Pottery". That's to say if they're selling or giving away the Harry Potter books, they're not legal (at this time). Of course, that's not the only thing to test, but it's that kind of thing - popular titles sold at the major stores, but given away for free, or titles known to not yet be officially in ebook form. Some names and methods you also get to know (those "subscribe $5/year to us and get all these ebooks for FREE!" type websites, often looking very similar to each other).

That's pretty general, but that's the gist of it.

Cheers,
Marc

poohbear_nc · 09-27-2011, 09:06 AM

To expand a bit further on Marc's comments:

1. If you discover a site but are unsure as to its legality, PM any mod with the link and let us check it out first.
2. Any site giving away copyrighted books free is 99.99999999% sure of being a pirate site.
3. Sites offering books in ebook format that "aren't available anywhere else" are probably illegal.

There are major authors currently unavailable in ebook format that are dead giveaways for illegal sites: Harry Potter (until Pottermore goes into business), Perry Mason titles, etc.

Barbara1955 · 09-27-2011, 02:36 PM

This does not help much. Most sites have members that put Copy Righted ebooks on them. When discovered they are removed. To me that Doesnt meant the Site is illegal....just means the members are. So I guess No One knows an illegal site from a legal one.

HarryT · 09-27-2011, 02:44 PM

No site which does not proactively police its downloads for illegal content can be considered legitimate. It's easy to tell those sites which are legit from those which try to hide behind a smokescreen of "we're not responsible for what our members upload".

montsnmags · 09-27-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

This does not help much. Most sites have members that put Copy Righted ebooks on them. When discovered they are removed. To me that Doesnt meant the Site is illegal....just means the members are. So I guess No One knows an illegal site from a legal one.

If our answers don't help much, perhaps you would like to elaborate on your question and why you are asking it on Feedback in the MobileRead forum. Do you wish to know if a specific book/site you've found is "illegal"? Do you wish to know if you can post a link to it on MR? You now have the attention of three Moderators trying to promptly help you with your MobileRead community experience, so it might be worthwhile availing yourself of that attention.

Cheers,
Marc
Moderator

Barbara1955 · 09-27-2011, 06:17 PM

NO! But heres the reason I asked.....
A member of another site I am on Posted a Web Site that listed Tons of ebook free sites. I went thru them & found 1 I really like. Now FF 3 weeks later. Another member posted a link to a site that she got several books she wanted for yrs [Paperback format] From 1 of the Free sites for eBooks. [Hope I didnt conffuse anyone LOL] ANYWAY I like the site I found so much I posted the link to it also. Owner of the site sent me a Nasty email saying Illegal web site links were not allowed!
So I Question How does a site Listed in a Popular web site list suddenly become illegal? A site I am told has been up & running for yrs. BTW this has been the 3 time in a yr this has happened to me. I Sick of not knowing How to establish Legal & Illegal sites grrrr

montsnmags · 09-27-2011, 06:30 PM

Thanks, Katie, for elaborating. It's a very good question. To take it to extremes, Amazon could be an "illegal site" under some definitions seeing as they occasionally get copyright infringing ebooks uploaded by people for sale. I guess one criteria to use therefore may be, as you say, on the open willingness and desire of the host to police/take down the infringing material?

I'm thinking on it....also, I'm about to walk my dog's so I'm being a bit disingenuous in saying I'm thinking on it.

But I will, and we'll both also hopefully see what others have to say. It may be that the answer ends up being one of those "grey" ones, hey?

Cheers,
Marc

Barbara1955 · 09-27-2011, 11:57 PM

sigh....

montsnmags · 09-28-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

sigh....

Katie. I don't understand.

Thus far you've asked an unelaborated question on the Feedback forum to which two Moderators initially responded in an attempt to help, trying to "elaborate" on how they think you might be relating it to MobileRead (and its policies/guidelines). To this you responded that our answers "don't help much" and an almost accusatory and dismissive "So I guess no-one knows".

Another moderator contributes an answer, and I ask for elaboration, which you provide, and which I then try to use to continue discussion.

Your response is as above.

With your "sigh" I now don't know what you want, or are expecting, from this MobileRead Feedback thread. The reason Moderators are responding is because this area is generally for feedback on MobileRead, its policies, its Guidelines, or to ask for help on MobileRead matters.

So...?

Cheers,
Marc

Barbara1955 · 09-28-2011, 12:22 AM

I am sorry! I didnt really know where to ask this question. IF you could place it where maybe another Member might know the answer please do.

montsnmags · 09-28-2011, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

I am sorry! I didnt really know where to ask this question. IF you could place it where maybe another Member might know the answer please do.

Ahh, so you're just asking, not specifically in relation to MobileRead, but just generally. Well, that could work well over in General Discussions. I'll move it over there in a moment. It should get a lot more opinion and response there.

Cheers,
Marc
Moderator

Barbara1955 · 09-28-2011, 12:26 AM

THANKS!

montsnmags · 09-28-2011, 12:30 AM

This thread has been moved from Feedback, so please don't worry too much about the responses to the OP up above as we were talking at cross-purposes, us thinking of the question only related to MobileRead, rather than as a general question. And note the OP's elaboration at post #7.

Please discuss. I know Katie will appreciate the discussion.

Cheers,
Marc
Moderator

HarryT · 09-28-2011, 03:10 AM

I'm really not sure where the confusion lies. No site which allows pirated books to be freely advertised and downloaded without having a proactive policy in place to sort out such issues can be considered "legitimate". Yes, such things CAN happen at any site which allows uploads; it's what the site DOES about it that determines the "legitimacy" of the site.

09-27-2011, 01:37 AM	#1
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Web Site that Offer Free eBook.....How can you Tell IF they are Legal??

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09-27-2011, 01:46 AM	#2
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Most of the "illegal" websites are easily identified by what I'd call "broken Pottery". That's to say if they're selling or giving away the Harry Potter books, they're not legal (at this time). Of course, that's not the only thing to test, but it's that kind of thing - popular titles sold at the major stores, but given away for free, or titles known to not yet be officially in ebook form. Some names and methods you also get to know (those "subscribe $5/year to us and get all these ebooks for FREE!" type websites, often looking very similar to each other). That's pretty general, but that's the gist of it. Cheers, Marc

09-27-2011, 09:06 AM	#3
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,886 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	To expand a bit further on Marc's comments: 1. If you discover a site but are unsure as to its legality, PM any mod with the link and let us check it out first. 2. Any site giving away copyrighted books free is 99.99999999% sure of being a pirate site. 3. Sites offering books in ebook format that "aren't available anywhere else" are probably illegal. There are major authors currently unavailable in ebook format that are dead giveaways for illegal sites: Harry Potter (until Pottermore goes into business), Perry Mason titles, etc.

09-27-2011, 02:36 PM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	This does not help much. Most sites have members that put Copy Righted ebooks on them. When discovered they are removed. To me that Doesnt meant the Site is illegal....just means the members are. So I guess No One knows an illegal site from a legal one.

09-27-2011, 02:44 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No site which does not proactively police its downloads for illegal content can be considered legitimate. It's easy to tell those sites which are legit from those which try to hide behind a smokescreen of "we're not responsible for what our members upload".

09-27-2011, 06:17 PM	#7
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	NO! But heres the reason I asked..... A member of another site I am on Posted a Web Site that listed Tons of ebook free sites. I went thru them & found 1 I really like. Now FF 3 weeks later. Another member posted a link to a site that she got several books she wanted for yrs [Paperback format] From 1 of the Free sites for eBooks. [Hope I didnt conffuse anyone LOL] ANYWAY I like the site I found so much I posted the link to it also. Owner of the site sent me a Nasty email saying Illegal web site links were not allowed! So I Question How does a site Listed in a Popular web site list suddenly become illegal? A site I am told has been up & running for yrs. BTW this has been the 3 time in a yr this has happened to me. I Sick of not knowing How to establish Legal & Illegal sites grrrr Last edited by Barbara1955; 09-27-2011 at 06:19 PM. Reason: typos

09-27-2011, 06:30 PM	#8
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Thanks, Katie, for elaborating. It's a very good question. To take it to extremes, Amazon could be an "illegal site" under some definitions seeing as they occasionally get copyright infringing ebooks uploaded by people for sale. I guess one criteria to use therefore may be, as you say, on the open willingness and desire of the host to police/take down the infringing material? I'm thinking on it....also, I'm about to walk my dog's so I'm being a bit disingenuous in saying I'm thinking on it. But I will, and we'll both also hopefully see what others have to say. It may be that the answer ends up being one of those "grey" ones, hey? Cheers, Marc

09-27-2011, 11:57 PM	#9
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	sigh....

09-28-2011, 12:22 AM	#11
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	I am sorry! I didnt really know where to ask this question. IF you could place it where maybe another Member might know the answer please do.

09-28-2011, 12:26 AM	#13
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	THANKS!

09-28-2011, 12:30 AM	#14
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	This thread has been moved from Feedback, so please don't worry too much about the responses to the OP up above as we were talking at cross-purposes, us thinking of the question only related to MobileRead, rather than as a general question. And note the OP's elaboration at post #7. Please discuss. I know Katie will appreciate the discussion. Cheers, Marc Moderator

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09-28-2011, 03:10 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm really not sure where the confusion lies. No site which allows pirated books to be freely advertised and downloaded without having a proactive policy in place to sort out such issues can be considered "legitimate". Yes, such things CAN happen at any site which allows uploads; it's what the site DOES about it that determines the "legitimacy" of the site.