From: Keith Lancaster <klancaster1957@...>
Date: 2006-05-17T04:26:40+09:00
Subject: Re: Ticked Off

------=_Part_27149_19609081.1147807596669
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline

On 5/16/06, Phil Hagelberg <phil@hagelb.org > wrote:
>
> "Keith Lancaster" <klancaster1957@gmail.com> writes:
>
> > While the pdf may be electronic, it is nevertheless a physical
> > product.
>
> Really? Can you touch a PDF? What does an MP3 smell like?


If I print a PDF out and put it on a news stand for sale, and you come by
and take it without paying for it, is this copyright violation or theft? If
it is theft, are you saying that all you are stealing is paper, and the
content does not play a role? How is the printed version logically differen=
t
from the electronic in this case?

> I happen to be from the music industry.
>
> There are some who would say this disqualifies you from speaking with
> any level of authority on copyright law, since most professionals from
> your field have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they know
> nothing of the content of these laws. However, I will refrain from
> making any such judgements myself.


You appear to be well versed in the law - perhaps you are a lawyer? That
would in general disqualify you from speaking with any authority about
ethics, would it not? :-) Yes, most musicians are not lawyers. They are jus=
t
people who understand common sense.

In the end, I do not care one whit whether the activity discussed (ie,
taking a pdf without paying the author), is *technically* stealing or
copyright violation - I find it wrong, as at least I *think* do you. As
others have written, most of the applicable laws were written before
electronic copying was possible. Perhaps it is time that the laws catch up
with the technology.

------=_Part_27149_19609081.1147807596669--