Legality of e-books...

[SilliSquid]

I have many books that I paid for, which I would love to have in e-book format so that I can archive them and read on my Clie. However, I was wondering what the legal implications are of creating an e-book of a book that I legally purchased. What do you folks think?

Also, is there a better way of doing this other than typing each and every word into my cpu? I have been thinking about buying a fast scanner to use with OSR software. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!!!

[narnia_77]

I think you can make an ebook for your own use, but can't sell it or even give it away to someone else.

[rhart00]

Originally posted by narnia_77
I think you can make an ebook for your own use, but can't sell it or even give it away to someone else.

what he said. It is like making copies of your own CDs. legal as long as you don't share them.

[zipman]

I have scanned books using Visioneer and exporting into Word. I then can use WordSmith to read the books after importing them into my T665.

[rhart00]

Originally posted by zipman
I have scanned books using Visioneer and exporting into Word. I then can use WordSmith to read the books after importing them into my T665.

this must be very time consuming

[sebring]

Seems like you could read the book in less time than it takes to scan it and export it, then transfer it to your Clie. Not to mention all the editing required by the OCR errors.

[rob_squared]

What I like are the free ebooks that are legal because they've passed the magic 75 year date of their creation. That's why everyone can read A Christmas Carol and such.

[madkins007]

Copying a book to e-format, even for your own use, is not, I believe, technically legal. It seems a clear violation of the warning in almost every book on the publisher's page forbidding any reproduction of the book (usually specifically including electronic formats) without permission.

On the other hand, I cannot imagine a.) how you would get caught, b.) any publisher pursuing this legally, and c.) that the punishment (if A and B fail) would be much.

Having said that, I cannot see as where this is a lot different than making a tape back-up of a software program or music tape. As long as it is just for you and only one person will be accessing the material at a time no one is being hurt and no one's profits are at risk. (Personal opinion!!!)

Now- an easier way? Sure- look for the material to be posted somewhere. Many older books are already archived in e-format, and a lot of popular books are as well. Some public libraries even offer an e-book collection to peruse!

[Rosenkrantz]

Just because a publishers says you can't make a copy of "this" book doesn't mean its agaisnt the law. Movie studios would have you think that buying or renting a DVD and showing it to your family and friends and having someone pay for the beer is against the law as you're "charging" them for viewing it.

The courts have spoken about software and movies and I'm sure they'll say the same for books - its ok to make a back up copy if you own it.

[madkins007]

Originally posted by Rosenkrantz
Just because a publishers says you can't make a copy of "this" book doesn't mean its agaisnt the law. Movie studios would have you think that buying or renting a DVD and showing it to your family and friends and having someone pay for the beer is against the law as you're "charging" them for viewing it.

The courts have spoken about software and movies and I'm sure they'll say the same for books - its ok to make a back up copy if you own it.

Whether copying your own books is against the law or not, you entered into an agreement to follow the rules when you bought the book (or software, or movie, etc.) Violation of this agreement is where they would get you... IF they tried to pursue it!

This is all part of the same whole arguement about fair use and author's rights that has been going on since the earliest tape recorders- probably since the days of handwriten copies!

Again- I would not worry about making copies of anything I owned for my own use. Let'em try to sue me over that! The only point I was trying ot make was to answer the question about legality, not morality or practicallity.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by rob_squared
What I like are the free ebooks that are legal because they've passed the magic 75 year date of their creation. That's why everyone can read A Christmas Carol and such. Yeah . . . more 'classics' are available everyday.  Gone With The Wind is available for D/L at Gutenberg.