Copyrights

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 9620

Hi

angela quiram wrote:

> Ok. Not to stir the pot, but if many of you as it seems write fanfic and think
> it is ok, whether you know copyright laws or not, what is the big fuss over
> the books being made available, for free, as I understand it, on the internet.
> I personally own both hardcover and softcover of all available HP
> books, but would not mind, as others have stated, the ease of an electronic
> copy.
>
> IMO, I am getting tired of all these copyright infringement arguements. I feel
> that if no one is making a profit from these "pirated" works, then there is no
> problem.

No one is making a profit, including the person who *should* be making a profit:
the author, JKR.  These pirated versions are diverting rightful profits away
from the published author.  They are called "pirated" versions for a reason!
There's simply no way to police it & determine if a person who is downloading a
copy from the internet already owns a print copy of the same work.  The only way
for an electronic version to be legal is for the consumer to *pay* for it, with
royalties going to the author just like the printed versions.

This is very different from fanfic because fanfic authors have no expectation of
profits or commercial benefit of any kind.

I don't think you would find this nearly so ridiculous if you'd take a moment &
put yourself in the shoes of a published author.  An author's income is derived
from sales of the books.  How would you feel if you learned that someone had
scanned the book & uploaded the scanned version to the internet so that it was
available for free to anyone who wanted to download it?  Many of those who
download a copy will consider it a boondoggle & not bother to go buy a copy --
so the end result is less money in your pocket.  It's thievery -- plain &
simple.

I'd love to have an electronic version myself -- particularly today as I'm
working on some of the FAQs for this group & it would sure make my life easier.
But, until a legal authorized electronic version is available for *sale* to the
public, I'll pass.

Penny