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

[Jester David]

WotC has MtG on most platforms http://magic.wizards.com/en/new-to-magic/try-the-game They totally "get" taking your real money for their virtual product.

Yes and no.
They have the online game that works like the cards: you buy virtual packs with randomized virtual cards. And the program is proprietary and does not allow you to share or pirate cards. You cannot, however, buy a single PDF of all the cards in an entire set that is official and treated as owning the physical product.

 

[Shasarak]

the mouse saved ALOT of people there hard work... anyone creative owes Disney a Big THANK YOU.... but I guess that you wont see it that way either...

Luckily in this non-LE society it is not a crime to have a different view point.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Luckily in this non-LE society it is not a crime to have a different view point.

at what point was ANY civilization evil in that reguards? let me guess ones that don't care about copy right much...

I don't think the USA is any alignment persay, but it defiantly isn't evil in the grand schema of things...

 

[Shasarak]

at what point was ANY civilization evil in that reguards? let me guess ones that don't care about copy right much...

I don't think the USA is any alignment persay, but it defiantly isn't evil in the grand schema of things...

Yes as I said.

 

[Paraxis]

Death to the mouse. Mickey should be public domain!

Not a fan of the extension to public domain laws either. Here is a list of some of the stuff that would have been available this year if the laws pre 1978 still existed. https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2015/pre-1976

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Not a fan of the extension to public domain laws either. Here is a list of some of the stuff that would have been available this year if the laws pre 1978 still existed. https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2015/pre-1976

what is the benfit (other then you getting to make a movie or book without oweing something to the owner of the copyriter) of not extending copyright?

If I write a book, and it takes off with TV shows, comics, and toys, why should not my children and childrens' children have a say in what is done with it, and why not let them make money off of Grampa?

why should Micky be open to the public when he is the symbol for a great American company?

 

[Coredump]

Much of what is legal or not legal regarding IP and copyright is the result of case law...particularly when dealing with Fair Use.

Technically, by some readings of the law, it would have been illegal to make a back up copy of your record, or to make an .mp3 copy, or whatever. the Courts stepped in and 'clarified' that the law would allow such actions.

AFAIK, they have not dealt with the issue of a person that owns the item, getting a 'shifted' version from someone else. When someone puts a .pdf up on Pirate Bay or wherever... there is not way of checking if the recipient owns an original copy, so they are knowingly facilitating piracy. So the person that puts it up is violating the law.
The person that downloads it, however, is allowed to have a .pdf copy.... so it gets a lot murkier at that point.

This is largely why the DMCA was pushed for in the US. It takes 'fair use' out of the equation. If you buy a DVD, you are allowed to make a back up, or put a copy on your iPod. EXCEPT.... you are not allowed to circumvent the DRM to make that copy.... Its like giving you a canteen and saying you are allowed to drink the water, except you are not allowed to open the canteen.

DMCA, however, doesn't apply to regular books.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

DMCA, however, doesn't apply to regular books.

until the day people make an ink or paper that wont scan or copy...

 

[Paraxis]

what is the benfit (other then you getting to make a movie or book without oweing something to the owner of the copyriter) of not extending copyright?

If I write a book, and it takes off with TV shows, comics, and toys, why should not my children and childrens' children have a say in what is done with it, and why not let them make money off of Grampa?

why should Micky be open to the public when he is the symbol for a great American company?

For society reasons, this page speaks to the issues far better than I could. https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2015/why

Personal reasons, I enjoy movies and tv, other forms of entertainment. Think of the different versions of Dracula, Frankenstein, Three Musketeers, and other public domain works we have seen, some good some bad but they get made because there is no copywrite holder, now if there is a larger pool of public domain resources the more variety in things like that we get. Sure it would be nice to see more original works but I do like enjoy Sherlock Holmes movies and TV those things might not be around unless they were public domain.

The creator gets to make a profit, and if they invest wisely their grandchildren will still reap the benefits, or their grandchildren could create something new using the public domain properties. How amazing would it be to go see a Dracula movie that the screenplay was adapted by a descendant of Bram Stoker, I know it would make me want to see the movie.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

For society reasons, this page speaks to the issues far better than I could. https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2015/why

Personal reasons, I enjoy movies and tv, other forms of entertainment. Think of the different versions of Dracula, Frankenstein, Three Musketeers, and other public domain works we have seen, some good some bad but they get made because there is no copywrite holder, now if there is a larger pool of public domain resources the more variety in things like that we get. Sure it would be nice to see more original works but I do like enjoy Sherlock Holmes movies and TV those things might not be around unless they were public domain.

there has to be a middle ground in there somewhere... Micky Mouse is currently being used by the company that own him... no one owns Sherlock or Frankenstein...


If tomorrow Superman and Batman where released to public domain I don't think it would make either character better either (although I might like the movie more)... but I bet I would see less new heroes from independents who could then just make superman and batman books...

I don't think forever is an option (at least not a good one) but life of creater doesn't really work, and I don't see a problem with WB or Disney...