Just wondering before I do it. I would figure it wouldn't be much different from going to a library and checking the book out. But laws are crazy some times, and I'd rather not break them. Thank you. :)
2006-06-13 21:51:05 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Thanks guys. :) Guess I'll just not be lazy and go to the library instead. lol :D
2006-06-13 22:08:16 · update #1
An author may make his or her work available online for free. Also, some books are so old that they are openly distributed online for public access.
Most contemporary books, however, are covered by copyright law and it would be intellectual piracy to obtain them without purchasing them. This is the same issue that comes up with illegally-obtained music, movies, and software.
2006-06-13 21:57:14 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The difference is, the library pays for the books first. The author of the book does get some compensation for their hard work. (Although I'm sure they'd love if you went to the bookstore and bought a copy instead.)
There are some sites, like Gutenberg.com that have the full text of books online. But the difference there is that all of their offerings are in the public domain (i.e. they're no longer under copyright.) So, if you want to download "A Tale of Two Cities" or "Pride and Prejudice" or some obscure book from 1875 - no problem. If you download Harry Potter or The DaVinci Code, though, you're breaking the law.
2006-06-14 05:38:02 · answer #2 · answered by poohba 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some books are in the public domain (usually old enough to be out of copyright) and can be legally down-loaded for free. See Project Gutenberg. If you had purchased the Kindle from Amazon you could download New York Times bestsellers for $9.95 apiece. So, if you read classic books or want to try NYTimes best sellers, the Kindle is a good deal. Otherwise, I don't know.
2016-03-15 04:04:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not from an authorized site. If you can download a book from a website that is secure or has some sort of certificate, you're fine. (To see the certificate, clock on the small certificate image, usually on the footnote of the page). Most of the sites from where you can download books, though, dont have author or publisher's permission, so yeah, those are illegal.
2006-06-13 21:58:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it all depends on copyrights. I think you are able to read old poems and stories of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare, etc. But, I think you have to pay to read books that are in print today. I only say this because I see sites that sell you the text of books online. So, if you didn't have to pay for it, why would those sites exist? :)
2006-06-13 21:56:20 · answer #5 · answered by SaylorMoon ♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is different from going to a library, because you don't own a library book. you have to take it back after a certain period of time, and technically you would own whatever you downloaded.
2006-06-13 21:55:12 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is illegal coz it goes against the very idea of authorship and copywriting!
2006-06-13 21:55:09 · answer #7 · answered by ♥♥ ĎᵲέӚϻ_ῬѓїЍϚ€$Ṧ ♥♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋