I know it is fair to by a used book, but aren't I cheating the author somehow?

Question

I have a passing knowledge of fair use copywrite laws. I was just curious though. I always felt like if I was buying used books or CDs that I was cheating the author. I know it is perfectly legal, but... If you copy a CD or DVD the author is out of the loop. Go to a used book store and buy a copy, they are out of the loop. I am not trying to rationalize piracy. It just seems that there is something pirated about used material. Just wondering.

Answer 1

So, then, by extension, ANYTHING that a person buys used is bad? I mean, if I go to a garage sale and buy someone's used lamp (or whatever), then the company that makes lamps (or whatever) is not profitting because I didn't buy a new lamp from them, and the furniture store (or whatever store) is not making any money either. Same for cars then, right? I should only buy a new car because the manufacturer doesn't make any money if I buy a used one from Joe Blow off the street? So I should only buy something if it's new? I realize I'm off the topic here, which was books or CD's, so I'll try to get back on course. So, what's a new book cost? $7, $8? At those prices, guess what? I won't be buying a lot of books anyway. And then what about libraries? Libraries let you check out books for free, so the authors don't make money when people check their books out of the library. But the libraries have to buy those books in the first place. So if used books are bad, then libraries are bad, even though they buy the authors books. Right?
Sorry if I'm rambling, and I didn't mean to get on my soapbox or anything, but some people just can't afford to buy everything new. I see nothing wrong with buying used books, after all, these days we're supposed to 'reduce, re-use, and recycle', aren't we? So help save the planet and buy a used book! lol

Answer 2

Authors and musicians love it when people pass along legal copies of their materials, because it amounts to free publicity. Sure, if you were going to buy a book anyways and bought it used instead of new, they lose a sale. But if you get hooked on their writing, are you going to wait a year or two after their next work comes out to find a used copy? Probably not. And if the book is fantastic and you tell a friend, there's the chance that they'll buy it too.

If you feel bad about it, buy the book used, and if you love it, buy the nice hardcover edition. Then pass the old one on to a friend, who might fall in love with it and tell somebody else...

Answer 3

I know how you feel. I disagree with the other guy, though. I mean, yes, the author has already been paid the money for THAT book, so he doesn't have to pay it twice... but, my concern is that, if I hadn't bought the book secondhand (or download it from Kazaa), I would have bought it new, and then the author would have received royalties for my purchase. But, when I use a library or secondhand store, I buy the book but the author gets no more money.

So yeah, it bugs me too.

Answer 4

The laws seem to involve making additional copies and profiting from it. I think authors expect and even hope that more than one person will read their book, think libraries.

Answer 5

No, of course not.

If the book is used, then a royalty has already been paid to the author for the copy.

How do you feel when you borrow a book from the library?

Answer 6

i really do not advise paper funds. would not look state-of-the-paintings for Heaven or Hell.... properly who am I to say? under no circumstances been. i imagine gold funds that are observed as... funds... ought to paintings. Oh gosh my mind hurts from each of the tricky questioning =P yet definite, i imagine gold funds, silver funds, and copper funds should be an outstanding overseas money for something like Heaven and Hell.

Answer 7

If it is a true crisis of conscience, then you shouldn't do it. Don't compromise yourself.