undefined | Better HN

0 pointstriceratops10mo ago0 comments

> But also, you are allowed to make them.

Not of physical media. You're allowed to make archival copies of digital media.

> Or reading a book via a computer would be illegal

No you purchased a license (or your library did, in the case of e-borrowing) to read the book on a computer. That makes it legal.

0 comments

Dylan1680710mo ago

I am allowed to point a webcam at my physical book and read off the screen, even though that makes digital copies of all the text.

triceratopsOP10mo ago

FWIW the essence of copyright law AIUI is: copying is not permitted, unless done in a form explicitly allowed by the license holder.

This scenario seems quite contrived but is there an actual court precedent allowing it? I'm 100% confident no one will ever prosecute you for doing it but that's not the same thing as "allowed".

In another thread I already posted about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Cos.,_In....

This case was about pointing <recording equipment> at <content someone is allowed to access> and making a copy to transmit it to <only that person>. The Supreme Court held it to be illegal. There was a lot of money on the line, which is why it went so far.

Dylan1680710mo ago

As far as I can tell there is also a principle that you can have ephemeral copies as part of handling and processing the work.

Your example involves transmission and mine doesn't, and that's a whole different can of worms.

Also the result of that case was self-contradicting so it's not a great basis to build too much logic upon.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointstriceratops10mo ago0 comments

> But also, you are allowed to make them.

Not of physical media. You're allowed to make archival copies of digital media.

> Or reading a book via a computer would be illegal

No you purchased a license (or your library did, in the case of e-borrowing) to read the book on a computer. That makes it legal.

0 comments

Dylan1680710mo ago

I am allowed to point a webcam at my physical book and read off the screen, even though that makes digital copies of all the text.

triceratopsOP10mo ago

FWIW the essence of copyright law AIUI is: copying is not permitted, unless done in a form explicitly allowed by the license holder.

This scenario seems quite contrived but is there an actual court precedent allowing it? I'm 100% confident no one will ever prosecute you for doing it but that's not the same thing as "allowed".

In another thread I already posted about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Cos.,_In....

Dylan1680710mo ago

As far as I can tell there is also a principle that you can have ephemeral copies as part of handling and processing the work.

Your example involves transmission and mine doesn't, and that's a whole different can of worms.

Also the result of that case was self-contradicting so it's not a great basis to build too much logic upon.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse