[Boatanchors] 73 Magazine pdf files

[Glen Zook]

There is no violation of the copyright law if ORIGINAL items are sold, traded, given away, etc.  Used book stores are selling ORIGINAL items, not illegal copies.  The name of the law itself says it all:  Copy right.  The copyright law comes into effect when COPIES of the original material are made.  If you are dealing with an original printing (etc.) item then you may distribute that item as you wish.  But, it is illegal to make additional copies of the material without the express permission of the copyright holder if the copyright is still in effect.

Once an item has passed into public domain then the copyright law does not apply and you can copy, distribute, and so forth, the material at will.

I realize that the number of persons holding active copyrights versus the general amateur radio population is a very small ratio.  Since amateur radio operators do have a reputation for being "cheap" I can also see why many operators are encouraging violating the copyright law so that they can obtain copyrighted material at a very low cost, even free.  However, that does not make unauthorized copying of copyrighted material right.

As I have said before, I definitely allow virtually all of the articles, etc., on which I hold copyrights to be reproduced by other amateur radio operators so long as there is no charge for the material and that I receive a copy of the publication in which my material is reproduced.  But, if someone is charging for the publication, etc., in which my copyrighted material is appearing then I rightfully expect to receive compensation for use of my material.  A person who reproduces copyrighted material without the express permission of the copyright holder is basically "stealing" the material.  That person is benefiting from the work of others without compensation.

I also realize that this discussion is going nowhere.  Basically, it is very similar to the "not in my backyard" mind frame.  That is, so long as "I" am not being affected then the practice is fine.  However, if "I" am being affected financially, etc., then things are different.  It just happens that, since I do hold active copyrights, I am affected by violations of the copyright law!

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Sun, 5/16/10, Todd, KA1KAQ <ka1kaq at gmail.com> wrote:

No more so than a used bookstore does. Yet they (used or old book stores) seem to sell copyrighted material daily without compensating the original authors or anyone beyond themselves. I guess all of the people selling complete years of the original QST, CQ, 73, or Ham Radio magazines must be breaking the law too. Especially if someone gave them the magazines.
 
As has been pointed out by several, it's a pretty ridiculous thread over something so benign. But like so many other issues in amateur radio today, more and more seems to be based in feeding someone's ego and less in providing a helping hand to the amateur community.