Tuesday, January 11, 2011

No Comment Department

15 comments:

David Cranmer said...

No worries about copyright issues. Just snap away.

Todd Mason said...

Well...for personal use, you aren't actually flauting copyright, any more than you do with a photocopier.

But clearly someone just wanted the one model to put on her backpack.

David Cranmer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
David Cranmer said...

True, TM but remember what grandma said: Two wrongs don't make a right.

Todd Mason said...

I'm sorry, David, but are you suggesting that anyone who has a book and transfers that book to an electronic format, rather than buying that book in e-format (assuming that book is available, not always a safe assumption by any means), that that person is violating copyright? Unless they are selling the copied product without permission or actually suppressing sales, I can't agree. This is home-taping on casette. Have you been violating copyright with a DVR or older device?

David Cranmer said...

Todd, Now you know we can’t lurk out all day on Bill's blog. So I will refer you to the constitutional provision respecting copyright under the US constitution, article I, section 8. Make sure you get the update version that includes all amendments through December 15, 2010. That should answer your questions, sir.

Richard R. said...

Yeah! Let's get rid of all those awkward, heavy books, scan them and then we can toss them out! Looks like it's a single size item, too, can't see it working on paperbacks or oversize art books.

Todd Mason said...

If you'll look up "Fair Use," David, we're on.

Todd Mason said...

Well, it's a pretty awkward item, indeed, Rick...but for scanning pulps and other fragile materials, it's not the worst possible option. Who said anything about throwing anything away?

David Cranmer said...

Ha. Touché.

Anonymous said...

Clearly the book industry (and those who love it) aren't nearly as concerned about piracy as people are in the movie biz.

Todd, the problem with this device isn't that you can scan your books until your heart is content (or a library book for that matter, saving you from even having to purchase that bulky chunk of paper caught between two covers), it's that once you have your 15 minute copy of that book you can just pass copies of it it around at will - whether you are selling it or not doesn't really matter. You're costing writers and publishers income. And without income some of them can't afford to continue to provide you with your entertainments.

You folks are going to "fair use" everyone right out of business.

TL

Todd Mason said...

Um...this device isn't the first scanner on the market, nor the first means of pirating a book, if one wanted to do that.

And your plaint against a library book being scanned has been made about public library books, as a concept (and, as you probably know, British writers have received moneys for their books circulating). Fair use isn't piracy, and this fairly clumsy device isn't going to the primary problem for writers, TL.

Anonymous said...

It certainly won't help any, Todd.

I'm all for libraries, so I want to clarify that my complaint is not against them. If they buy a book and people take the time to take the book out, read it and return it, I think that is still giving writers a fighting chance out there. The writer sells a certain amount of copies that then get shared in the community as reading copies

But if all you have to do is spend 15 minutes scanning it, then you return it so others can do the same, you lesson then need for purchasing more copies to fulfill public demand for the book. (I hope this makes sense.)

I'm sure there are other devices like this out there. But this is the one we were discussing.

TL

Toby O'B said...

I just liked the porn music that went with the demo clip. There should be more videos of models putting on backpacks.....

Gerard said...

I'm liking that blond, too.

If the scans are good quality, and the price decent, this could be a nice tool for archivists. Other book scanners can be uber-fancy with a price tag to match. Although, this would not be good for fragile items.