Legality Question

[Calico_Jack73]

I've got a question that hopefully some of the more legal minded folks who visit ENWorld can answer regarding PDF copies of books.

I just recently bought a copy of the Midnight Campaign setting and I LOVE IT! However, I've since found out that there has been a BIG problem with the binding and that most of the books start losing their pages after in some cases only a few hours of reading. I can tell that my new book will be going that way, some pages when open split all the way to the glue.

Now, I know that going onto a File Sharing system and downloading a PDF copy of a book that I don't own a paper version of is illegal. What about downloading a PDF of a book that I do own a paper copy of? I'd imagine that it is like buying a music CD... once I buy the CD I can turn the music into any format that I like be it tape or MP3 as long as it is for personal use and I don't distribute copies. It would't be any different than if I wait for my book to fall apart and then scan the pages myself except that someone else has already done the work for me. I've been thinking about logging into a unnamed file sharing program to see if I can pick up Midnight in PDF form but I wanted to check first.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Time to bump this back to the top... I can't believe I haven't got one reply or view yet.

 

[BSF]

Usual disclaimers - I am not a lawyer

You should be able to make a copy of your book so long as you don't share it. I think that is covered under fair use. But, I am not 100% sure.

However, I would suggest that you contact FFG and see if they will replace the book with the bad binding. That is certainly allowed and will get you a good, sturdy copy of the book to boot.

 

[Crothian]

Contact FFG and explain that you got a book with a bad binding. They have had that problem with the Midnight books and have been replacing them.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

It isn't just that the book will fall apart but that an electronic copy can actually be more convenient to use. Using a laptop at the gaming table is already a godsend with all the wonderful software that has been developed so having a PDF would also mean one less book that I'd have to lug to the game.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Contact FFG and explain that you got a book with a bad binding. They have had that problem with the Midnight books and have been replacing them.

It hasn't fallen apart yet but then again I am babying my book because I want it to last. I can't bring myself to treat it like my other books (lay it open flat on the table), instead I make sure that I don't open it more than say 45 degrees. What can I say... I love my books and I take care of them.

Let me reiterate... this isn't about the book per-se but about the legality of using a PDF copy of a book that you bought a paper copy of. It might as well be the PHB, DMG, or MM. I've bought them all (both 3E and 3.5). Would it be legal for me to have/use a PDF copy of them?

 

[jaerdaph]

Fair use - if you own a CD album and make a copy of that album on tape for your personal use in your car for example (not distribution to your friends), that is fair use.

You would have to make a PDF version (or photocopies etc.) from YOUR copy of Midnight for it to be fair use.

Pirates and illegal downloaders try to use fair use to their advantage, but unless you are making the second copy from your own legally owned copy and for your personal use only, fair use doesn't apply.

 

[Sertimon]

I agree with BardStephenFox that you should try to contact either FFG or wherever you bought the book. My copy of Midnight also had a bad binding and I got mine replaced. No problems actually, just returned the bad one, and picked up a new one a week later or so from my local RPG shop.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

You would have to make a PDF version (or photocopies etc.) from YOUR copy of Midnight for it to be fair use.

Pirates and illegal downloaders try to use fair use to their advantage, but unless you are making the second copy from your own legally owned copy and for your personal use only, fair use doesn't apply.

Gotcha... guess I'll just be calling up FFG when my book finally falls apart.

 

[smetzger]

It is illegal to download a pdf of a book that you own a paper copy of. You may make a copy of your book but you cannot use a copy of someone elses book.

mp3.com got in trouble a few years ago because they had a service that allowed users to upload copies of their songs and then the users could download their 'copies' whenever they wanted to. The problem was that mp3.com only actually stored one copy of each song on their sever, to save on space.