D&D 5E Can someone please explain to me why there are still no PDFs for 5e core books?

[Gecko85]

Please be aware that "fair use" (as that term is defined by copyright law) does not apply to "acquiring" illegal PDFs, nor does owning a physical copy of the book make having a copy of an illegal PDF any less a copyright violation.

I'm all for the idea of having an electronic version of the 5E books myself, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking there's some kind of legal loophole or excuse that makes illegal PDF copies any less illegal.

Technically you may be right, just as technically it was illegal to record an album you owned on vinyl to cassette so you you could listen to it in the car back in the day. Or for a more modern take, it may not technically be legal to rip your DVD and Blu-Ray movies to a hard drive for use in your media center. The concept of fair use with regards to platform shifting is, and always has been, murky.

 

[Morrus]

Technically you may be right, just as technically it was illegal to record an album you owned on vinyl to cassette so you you could listen to it in the car back in the day. Or for a more modern take, it may not technically be legal to rip your DVD and Blu-Ray movies to a hard drive for use in your media center. The concept of fair use with regards to platform shifting is, and always has been, murky.

You're misunderstanding his post.

It's true that format-shifting varies by jurisdiction. You're right there. But that's not what he said.

Downloading pirated materials doesn't tend to vary much by jurisdiction. It's illegal most Western jurisdictions, and plenty of others.

If you want to format-shift, and if it's legal where you are, you have to do it yourself. Downloading the pirated version is still illegal, even in the most permissive format-shifting jurisdictions.

Whether you think it *should* be illegal or not is between you and your jurisdiction's legislators. Go vote!

 

[Marius Delphus]

Oh, I'm fully aware that "what you can get away with," "what's acceptable," and "what's technically legal" aren't the same thing. I'm just saying that we mustn't pretend that things that are technically illegal are otherwise.

 

[Fildrigar]

Can someone please explain to me why there are still no PDFs for 5e core books?

It's March, 2015. I just don't get it... and don't blame the failed dungeonscape thing; we're months past that now.

Getting sick of lugging my books around LOL!!!

Simple. Because every time someone complains on these forums about the lack of pdfs, Wizards pushes back the release date another week. I think it's been pushed back to 2016 now.

 

[Shiroiken]

Several reasons, I imagine.

Partially fear of piracy. I've heard this was really bad in 4E with the official PDFs. What they don't understand then, is that the PDFs are already pirated. They're just losing out on the potential profits, and it's tempting honest gamers (who would normally buy them) into getting them illegally.

My guess is more towards a non-competition philosophy. Morningstar was not going to have the PDFs. They were going to have what you needed, but not in the same format or presentation. Meaning you'd still have a need for the books, thus forcing you to buy both.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I think that it's primarily about building strong relationships with the game stores. Organized Play seems to be central to the marketing of fifth edition, with it being tied into the seasonal stories.

 

[miniaturehoarder]

Digital books don't get D&D more exposure to the uninitiated. Only dead tree has a presence in the real world. Someone sees you staring at a screen, nothing new there. The book however can be seen, felt, read, borrowed and even passed down.

If you want to format-shift, and if it's legal where you are, you have to do it yourself. Downloading the pirated version is still illegal, even in the most permissive format-shifting jurisdictions.

Whether you think it *should* be illegal or not is between you and your jurisdiction's legislators. Go vote!

Things seem to have changed around here, I remember when you would have just red text'ed warning gecko85's post.

 

[Fergurg]

Technically you may be right, just as technically it was illegal to record an album you owned on vinyl to cassette so you you could listen to it in the car back in the day. Or for a more modern take, it may not technically be legal to rip your DVD and Blu-Ray movies to a hard drive for use in your media center. The concept of fair use with regards to platform shifting is, and always has been, murky.

In a general sense, it is legal to make ONE backup copy in whatever format you choose in your examples because you are technically buying one license to use the product. As long as you don't distribute your copy, it is valid.

What isn't legal is getting a copy from someone else, whether you have the original or not. Books can be tricky because, at least in the U.S., you are purchasing the physical copy and can do whatever you want with that copy. But you don't have the right to make another copy; this is why professional copying places won't make photocopies of books. This does explicitly include electronic copies, so even making a PDF of your book is a violation.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Whether you think it *should* be illegal or not is between you and your jurisdiction's legislators.

The fact that you have to say this boggles my mind... the fact that people try to sya "just pirate it" in other words also does....

when did it become so socially expectable to openly discus breaking the law?
when did it become ok to just take something if you want it?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

when did it become so socially expectable to openly discus breaking the law?

Acceptable? Pretty much the first time there was a law that wasn't widely agreed with? Particularly ones which against "natural law", like this. So, say, 8000 BC? People have always broken laws they disagreed with, in many cases openly.

when did it become ok to just take something if you want it?

Don't see anyone suggesting that, so you'll need to explain.

Personally, the lack of official PDFs from WotC (or any digital 5E solution at all) is ensuring I won't run 5E. I just don't carry piles of books any more. I guess that WotC want something else more than my money, though. Or maybe they're just being bloody silly about PDFs due to internal politics, wouldn't be the first time.