Whats the rules for PDFs?

[yeebarr]

Just a quick query (not sure if this is the right place for it but whatever...)

I've just bought a couple of excellent downloads (i.e. "Tournaments, Fairs and Taverns", "4CTF", etc) and after a couple of my fellow players saw them they asked if they could get copies.

So my question is, what are the rules for me printing out PDFs? Can I only print out the PDF once or am I allowed to print it out as many times as I want?

I don't want to step on any legal toes here so I just thought I'd better do the right thing and ask.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Wolfspider]

I'm no copyright lawyer, but I'd say one paper copy for your personal use would be all that would be allowed. This just seems to make sense (not that all laws make sense, mind you...).

 

[Crothian]

That's a really good question. I would think you should only print it once, so it would be like owning one copy of a bound book. But that is just my opinion, I really don't know.

 

[EOL]

Indisputably, the writers of the PDF in question would prefer to have all your friends buy a copy rather than get one for free from you. Legally I think you only bought one copy, whether printed or digital it's the same. Enforcing this of course is impossible and can only be done on the honor of those who purchased it.

So are you honorable or not?

 

[yeebarr]

Pretty honourable I guess...which is why I asked the question.

But - dang! I guess I should have found this out before my mate took my copy...'cause I'm pretty sure he's never going to return it!

 

[Phowett]

Well, I doubt a lawyer will pop out of nowhere and question your friends on where they got their copies from.

 

[Wikidogre]

feeling saucy tonight, ill be the one to break the ice. Hopfully it will not get me kicked off the boards! As for pdf's, from a copyright view, no it is like owning a print version of a book, and you cutting the binding off of a book and photo-coping it., but its like having a girl-friend or wife, and one night you and the guys go to the strip club, and the next day she asks, so what did you do last night, well it is a matter of "what she does not know, will not hurt her"............take it for what it is worth, and just dont go printing off several copies and sell them!!



*One again, i hope i did not step on anyones toes, just breaking the ice, and giving an honest opinion. Please dont ban me

 

[yeebarr]

Wu-oh-ur...thanks WiKidOgre...um...personally I think I'll just try and get my copy back and tell those cheap SOBs to buy their own copies!

Oh...and thanks for the assist with the queries guys! I told my wife that these on-line chat's ARE useful!

 

[Crothian]

Oh...and thanks for the assist with the queries guys! I told my wife that these on-line chat's ARE useful!

And it's either this or the Strip Club.

 

[tburdett]

A simple case of RTM, or RTPDF in this case. Look at the document for guidance.

If the .PDF document does not give you guidance in this regard, then you are home free to do as you wish. It would be extremely interesting to find out that the publisher forgot to protect their work.