[bksvol-discuss] Why we don't accept ebooks
- From: <Jim@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:56:23 -0700
I wanted to expand on Lisa's comment about ebook-derived books, since
legal compliance is one of the areas I stay very involved with.
Although there is an argument for Section 121 (Chafee) applying to
ebooks, it's much more complex than books scanned from hardcopy.
Reasons why we don't accept ebooks:
1. If a school or student gets an ebook under a state law, the law
and/or publisher usually attachs strings to the book (don't give it to
someone else).
2. If you have an ebook you bought or borrowed, it usually comes with a
license agreement that also restricts your use.
3. If the book comes from an on-line source, it's probably pirated.
Even though Bookshare.org might make an argument that these books could
go into the collection, each one would be tainted in some way. Someone
violated state law, a contract, or copyright law to give it to us.
Because of the intense scrutiny Bookshare.org has been and will be under
by publishers and authors, it doesn't make sense to risk the service by
going in this direction. Our cautious approach has led to the trust
almost all authors and publishers have for us, which is why we're
beginning to get a steady stream of direct content from publishers and
authors.
Any loosening of this policy will be quite limited in scope, and will be
done with prior consultation with the publishing industry.
Jim
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