| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ardashir |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 19:22:20
Or any others, really (sorry if this thread is a bad fit, but I relaly don't know who else to ask right now):
If I get a PDF from an online source, and take it to a print shop like Staples to have it printed out (I prefer a 'real' copy to hold in my hands), do I need permission from the copyright holder?
I thought that permission to run off a copy for your own use went along with the purchase itself. |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wandering_mage |
Posted - 22 Oct 2008 : 21:24:41
This is one sticky subject. ::cringes:: |
| Tyranthraxus |
Posted - 20 Oct 2008 : 20:02:31
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
[quote]I'm very happy that I have a laser all-in-one at home so I can create and print my own PDFs... I just wish I could afford to buy toner for it.  But that's secondary
Join the club  that's why I print my RPG PDF's at school. |
| Jakk |
Posted - 17 Oct 2008 : 21:42:17
quote:
Originally posted by Nerfed2Hell
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
To play it safe, least around here, because I've tried that at Stables and Office Max, you should contact the PDF copy writer and ask them. Most would usually give permission but better to cover your.... especially since Bush, today, signed the new copy right law.
Doesn't that law make photocopiers illegal in their entirety?
Not at all... just like VCRs and tape recorders were never illegal. These things have legitimate uses and making them illegal to protect copyrighted (and/or trademarked) material would be hurting more people than it helps. So, when legality comes into question, its not the device but the use of it that makes the difference.<chop>
 I know that; I was being sarcastic, which is just about the only genuine emotion I have any more. [/sarcasm] 
I'm very happy that I have a laser all-in-one at home so I can create and print my own PDFs... I just wish I could afford to buy toner for it. But that's secondary; I like having my legitimately-purchased rulebooks (esp. those for 3E) in PDF form because Wizards decided that advertising was more important than subject indexing for most of them. In fact, I think that the FRCS is the only 3E FR book that has an index; but I could be wrong.  |
| Ardashir |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 23:07:52
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
That's kind of funny since I've had all of my PDFs of Pathfinder Society Adventures run off at Staples 
I've been told that as long as the PDF has a watermark indicating the person having it printed out as the owner, its fine with them to print it out, but I've also heard a few people have their PDFs turned away because the employee in question didn't know what the policy was.
From what I've heard from some people on Paizo's boards that work at Fed Ex/Kinko's, if its watermarked, and if the people selling or distributing the PDF have the right to do so, they can print it out, as long as they have no reason to assume that you will be doing anything other than using it for personal use.
Thanks, maybe the next time I want something from a PDF run off I'll try Kinko's or FedEx first. |
| Neil |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 15:59:15
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion
quote:
Originally posted by Neil
Staples won't do it, as it is illegal, or at least opens them up to liability in a copyright violation lawsuit. Just telling them that you're using it for personal use will not help. Virtually all copy companies have a policy that if it's got the little '©' on it, they won't copy it. They have to be careful, because the publishing industry watches them like hawks.
-I've never had this happen to me once. Mind you, all I've ever done was have copies of character sheets made, but never once were any questions asked.
As I said, your mileage may vary base on the incompetance of the copy staff at your local Staples. And the self-serve machines are like the Wild West. |
| GRYPHON |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 05:17:39
I've never had a problem as long as it's watermarked... |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 04:26:53
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
To play it safe, least around here, because I've tried that at Stables and Office Max, you should contact the PDF copy writer and ask them. Most would usually give permission but better to cover your.... especially since Bush, today, signed the new copy right law.
Doesn't that law make photocopiers illegal in their entirety?
Not at all... just like VCRs and tape recorders were never illegal. These things have legitimate uses and making them illegal to protect copyrighted (and/or trademarked) material would be hurting more people than it helps. So, when legality comes into question, its not the device but the use of it that makes the difference.
You can own a photocopier (or tape recorder, VCR, DVDr, etc). You cannot use that device to illegally reproduce copyrighted material. If you do so, you put yourself at risk of liability should the incident ever go to court. This is why companies like Staples or Kinkos have policies in place against making copies of just any old thing... because they become implicated in the crime by aiding the criminal. And even if you assure them that your copy is for personal use only, they have no way of knowing what you will do with it once you leave their store... for all they know, you went to every similar store in the surrounding area getting one copy made "for personal use only" and have a dozen or more copies already. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 02:16:00
quote:
Originally posted by Neil
Staples won't do it, as it is illegal, or at least opens them up to liability in a copyright violation lawsuit. Just telling them that you're using it for personal use will not help. Virtually all copy companies have a policy that if it's got the little '©' on it, they won't copy it. They have to be careful, because the publishing industry watches them like hawks.
-I've never had this happen to me once. Mind you, all I've ever done was have copies of character sheets made, but never once were any questions asked. |
| Neil |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 02:12:16
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
Doesn't that law make photocopiers illegal in their entirety?
It's not like they didn't try.
Still, Basic Books v. Kinko's made the copy places skittish. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 02:06:57
Not sure Jakk but all I know is that it'll make a new Copy Right Czar to go after pirates, etc.
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
To play it safe, least around here, because I've tried that at Stables and Office Max, you should contact the PDF copy writer and ask them. Most would usually give permission but better to cover your.... especially since Bush, today, signed the new copy right law.
Doesn't that law make photocopiers illegal in their entirety?
|
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 15 Oct 2008 : 00:05:42
That's kind of funny since I've had all of my PDFs of Pathfinder Society Adventures run off at Staples
I've been told that as long as the PDF has a watermark indicating the person having it printed out as the owner, its fine with them to print it out, but I've also heard a few people have their PDFs turned away because the employee in question didn't know what the policy was.
From what I've heard from some people on Paizo's boards that work at Fed Ex/Kinko's, if its watermarked, and if the people selling or distributing the PDF have the right to do so, they can print it out, as long as they have no reason to assume that you will be doing anything other than using it for personal use.
The "people distributing have the rights to do so" thing comes from a few months back when the people at the Dragonlance Nexus put out their Adlatum sourcebook, which apparently can't be copied because the Nexus, even though they are giving it out for free, doesn't have the rights to grant permission to print Dragonlance material. |
| Jakk |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 23:32:05
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
To play it safe, least around here, because I've tried that at Stables and Office Max, you should contact the PDF copy writer and ask them. Most would usually give permission but better to cover your.... especially since Bush, today, signed the new copy right law.
Doesn't that law make photocopiers illegal in their entirety? |
| Neil |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 23:29:05
Staples won't do it, as it is illegal, or at least opens them up to liability in a copyright violation lawsuit. Just telling them that you're using it for personal use will not help. Virtually all copy companies have a policy that if it's got the little '©' on it, they won't copy it. They have to be careful, because the publishing industry watches them like hawks.
Of course, some Staples employees are very bottom of the barrel, so your mileage may vary. If they're not familiar with their own policies, you can get away with whatever you like. |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 22:03:09
Personal use only, and I'd say no more than one copy at a time. Running off a couple extra copies for your own personal use by handing them out to players at game-time (even if collected again when the game is over) is likely stretching the personal use only stipulation. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 19:49:31
-As long as it's for personal use...Remember, WotC does give permission to photocopy their products for personal use (character sheets, for example). |
| Kuje |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 19:38:14
To play it safe, least around here, because I've tried that at Stables and Office Max, you should contact the PDF copy writer and ask them. Most would usually give permission but better to cover your.... especially since Bush, today, signed the new copy right law. |
| Ardashir |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 19:31:56
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
I *believe* that you cannot print the digital version, even from a legitimately purchased one.
I'm very rusty on my digital law, however.
Okay, but I could swear I've heard people here on the site saying they'd done just that, and apparently without any problem.
Then again, maybe it was just the Staples I went to. When I asked if you could print a PDF there, I was asked, "What's a PDF?" |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 19:27:47
I *believe* that you cannot print the digital version, even from a legitimately purchased one.
I'm very rusty on my digital law, however. |
|
|
