Are the PDFs illegal, if you own the books?

[Fenes]

I want to buy a PDF version of ToB: Bo9S, but seems WotC hasn't put it out yet.

 

[Asmor]

Thank you all very much for your comments.

It seems that international copyright and the associated laws are really more complex then I thought. But we can always hope that WotC releases official PDFs for a reasonable price (and useable payment methods for international buyers).

The Rouse has confirmed that they'll release PDFs at some point. Depends on your definition of reasonable price, though; if history is any indicator-- and WotC's stated reasons certainly haven't changed-- the PDFs will cost the full MSRP of the hardcover books.

 

[TimeOut]

The Rouse has confirmed that they'll release PDFs at some point. Depends on your definition of reasonable price, though; if history is any indicator-- and WotC's stated reasons certainly haven't changed-- the PDFs will cost the full MSRP of the hardcover books.

And that is not a reasonable price for a digital product. I rather spend a random Sunday scanning my books for personal use, then spending the same price again.

10€ are OK, 15€ maybe (depends on quality), more for something I can't touch and put into my bookshelf and would be used only for convenience: No.

 

[Zogmo]

So no, big brother isn't going to be knocking on your door for downloading PDFs. You are, however, depriving the publisher of any kind of recompense for the PDF that you are using.

Big brother might be knocking at your door because your IP is listed in the "generic online torrent" websites computer (that you downloaded it from) that the FBI has confiscated in their attempts to shut down those pirates. They will follow these leads and see who is doing what, and won't just take your word for it that you aren't distributing. If someone was only downloading (and it wasn't too many) you won't go to jail but what you have to go through is lawyer fees (cause if you are stupid you won't get one). It's just very, very not worth the time and embarrassment and inconvenience that an ordinary citizen has to go through because of some PDFs downloaded from a website that was busted by the anti-piracy police.

 

[Fenes]

Full price for PDFs won't drive me off, the added value pdfs offer (Search function, copy/paste for adventure notes, ease of transport/storing, updates) is worth it for me.

 

[Zogmo]

Full price for PDFs won't drive me off, the added value pdfs offer (Search function, copy/paste for adventure notes, ease of transport/storing, updates) is worth it for me.

It took me a while to get used to using them but what you list is the reason I can almost not do without them now.

 

[TimeOut]

Full price for PDFs won't drive me off, the added value pdfs offer (Search function, copy/paste for adventure notes, ease of transport/storing, updates) is worth it for me.

Search function: Ok, but not worth full price in my opinion.
C&P: I can type the relevant sections in a few minutes tops (not to mention most C&P out of PDFs is horrible and requires reformatting anyway).
Ease of transport: We don't use computers/laptops at the game table, I would only need them at work (and I should rather work then looking through rpg books...)
Updates: Well, if you can re-download the books at any time and if they include all errata at the right place... Ok, that would be worth a little more. Still not 30€ per Book, but depending on restrictions I'm up to 20€.

 

[Monkey Boy]

Big brother might be knocking at your door because your IP is listed in the "generic online torrent" websites computer (that you downloaded it from) that the FBI has confiscated in their attempts to shut down those pirates. They will follow these leads and see who is doing what, and won't just take your word for it that you aren't distributing. If someone was only downloading (and it wasn't too many) you won't go to jail but what you have to go through is lawyer fees (cause if you are stupid you won't get one). It's just very, very not worth the time and embarrassment and inconvenience that an ordinary citizen has to go through because of some PDFs downloaded from a website that was busted by the anti-piracy police.

I don't get it. Why are you so amazingly passionate about this topic. Why all the fear? I understand something happened to Erik, I get that. Still you seem to be posting some things that just don't happen in real life. Big Brother eh? I'll go grab my tinfoil hat. I believe they are spying on me even now.

 

[roguerouge]

A couple of things.

1)Allready mentioned, it's not theft, it's copyright infringment. What does this mean? It means if you get busted you'll get sued for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars instead of the community service/month of jail/slap on the wrist you'd get for stealing $35 of physical property.

2)The laws for copyright infringement vary greatly from country to country. Britain, US, Canada, Australia and various European countries all have very different laws regarding it. Thus there's a decent chance that any advice on it doesn't actually apply to you.

3) Ultimately, it is illegal in most countries to download it, although all the prosecutions that I've seen have involved movies/music.

Note: Gnutella is actually legal in its home jurisdiction of The Netherlands. Not that that helps you in the slightest elsewhere.

 

[tenkar]

Big brother might be knocking at your door because your IP is listed in the "generic online torrent" websites computer (that you downloaded it from) that the FBI has confiscated in their attempts to shut down those pirates. They will follow these leads and see who is doing what, and won't just take your word for it that you aren't distributing. If someone was only downloading (and it wasn't too many) you won't go to jail but what you have to go through is lawyer fees (cause if you are stupid you won't get one). It's just very, very not worth the time and embarrassment and inconvenience that an ordinary citizen has to go through because of some PDFs downloaded from a website that was busted by the anti-piracy police.

Very doubtful. The FBI generally does not get involved in this. It is the Music and Movie Recording industries filing of the digital world's equivilent of a search warrant with internet providers that get people snagged. People get served with civil lawsuits and basically a buyout offer if they want to avoid court.

As for shutting down the torrent sites... most, if not all, are overseas.

So no, Big Brother will not be knocking on your door unless Hasbro's lawyers decide to follow the Music and Movie Recording industries (which will have one heckof a startup cost). Can't you just do the right thing because it is the right thing to do?