IF a PDFs of the 3 core books were leaked, would you:

[Crazy Jerome]

I don't like doing anything with IP that is even edging towards questionable ethics. I wouldn't want people doing that with my IP, so ...

That said, this particular question doesn't even tempt me. I'm not interested in playing 4E until you guys have played it a lot, run through the first printing, and I get a nice, shiny rulebook with the errata already incorporated. Plus, I don't like PDFs. Asking me is like offering me "raw pet" for dinner, and whether I want kitten or puppy.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I WOULD download the pdf and make sure to still buy the books (which are on preorder anyway). Is it morally shifty? Yes.

I really don't see how this is any different from sitting down at Barnes & Nobles to read through a rule book before you walk up to the register. I don't know any bookstore in the world that keeps their books behind lock and key and demands payment before you can even flip through a couple pages.

I also don't see the difference between "downloading it, reading it, deciding its crap, and deleting it" and putting something back on the shelf. It's really the same exact transaction except that one's at home and the other's at the store.

I mean, as long as WotC gets paid their $$, who cares what the exact order of actions are? It's not like my reading a PDF prevents other would-be-customers from paying their money. I know what the law is, but I've just never see any moral harm here.

I voted the third choice because I pay authors whose work I like and because printed books are better than PDFs. (though both is even better)

 

[Mistwell]

I'm really surprised that anybody pre-ordering wouldn't download.

You're really surprised some people will obey the law even when it involves a victimless offense?

I'm actually a bit surprised at the number of people who would not obey the law even for such a victimless offense.

 

[Daijin]

I would ignore it totally. Its wrong, Period!

 

[Deset Gled]

To be completely honest, I am planning on eventually finding some way to get a computerized copy of 4e. While I agree that a soft copy is no substitute for a hard copy, the opposite is also true. I can't sit down in a comfy chair and read through a pdf, but I also can't search for keywords in hardback book, nor can I carry the book around to reference while I'm on break at work. The lack of a text version of the SRD published by WotC means that I'll have to find another way to get a soft copy if I want one.

The key to being legal here, of course, is that I must own the hard copies first before it's legal to have the soft copy.

 

[Crashy75]

...
Also: LOL at the suggestion that book piracy is morally equivalent to eating puppies. Oh, you crazy kids these days.

Yeah, the biggest disconnect to me was equating buying books to saving puppies from a burning building. I like capitalism too but still…

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

Asking me is like offering me "raw pet" for dinner, and whether I want kitten or puppy.

Side track: Well, to be fair, cat can be quite tasty if prepared correctly. I know because I've eaten Vietnamese quisine while dating a Vietnamese girl way back when. Was invited over for dinner, and surprised the family when this "round-eyed gaijin" accepted seconds even after being told what he was eating. And I'm a bonafide cat person.

Back on topic: I'd love to say I would be able to flat-out resist the temptation of a free download, but I know myself better than that.

Given the absolutely lenient policy that the local Borders and Barnes'n'Noble stores have in regards to people reading a book in the store almost cover to cover, I can't really say that there's that much of a conceptual difference between picking up a copy of a 4e PHB in the store and reading it throughly than downloading a copy and then deleting it if you don't like it. Especially in light of watching a kid plop down on his butt and read a bunch of manga books in the store in plain view of the sales staff and they just ignored it...

 

[KrazyHades]

jaerdaph, don't post in this thread again - you don't get to insult people who don't agree with you.

That goes for everyone - post civilly in here, or not at all.

I'd call that a crit on the banhammer swing.

To be on topic, I theoretically would get the PDFs, but I would keep my preorders and use them. There's something about having a physical copy of the book that is so much more satisfying.

 

[No Name]

I really don't see how this is any different from sitting down at Barnes & Nobles to read through a rule book before you walk up to the register.

Because you're getting to see it ahead of schedule. Talking about what you've seen could negatively influence sales. With such exclusive information, it would be difficult for others to debate over or refute what you may say about the product.

Having said all that, if I somehow got my hands on a pdf copy, I'd have to read over it. I don't have what it takes to resist such a thing.


But I'd still buy the books.

 

[Imban]

Because you're getting to see it ahead of schedule. Talking about what you've seen could negatively influence sales. With such exclusive information, it would be difficult for others to debate over or refute what you may say about the product.

Hm, it'd certainly be possible (heck, probable) harm for the company if their books were leaked ahead of time, so I'd say it'd be morally questionable to download them... but practically speaking, unless the entire internet refused to look at the books, the cat's already out of the bag, and all the harm's already been done.

Since it's a victimless crime that doesn't harm society (because, well, you're not harming WotC's sales beyond what already legal methods allow you to do, you're just doing it at home), I don't see a moral fault in downloading books post-release for preview purposes only. Of course, it should still be illegal, because unlike a preview reading in a bookstore, it has very easy and obvious possibilities for misuse.