I’ve got a hectic couple of weeks coming up for travel, a few days away as well as then a company trip, so I’ve been considering the virtue of digital comics. I’ve likewise been influenced by this edition of the NY Times Ethicist, in which a visitor asks for the columnist’s viewpoint on downloading a “pirate” copy of a book he has already bought in purchase to prevent carrying a three-and-a-half-pound book on his trip. The response provided begins as follows:
An unlawful download is — to utilize an unsightly word — illegal. however in this case, it is not unethical. author as well as publisher are entitled to be paid for their work, as well as by buying the hardcover, you did so. Your subsequent downloading is akin to purchasing a CD, then copying it to your iPod.
Buying a book or a piece of music ought to be regarded as a permit to delight in it on any type of platform. Sadly, the anachronistic conventions of bookselling as well as copyright legislation lag the technology. therefore you’ve violated the publishing company’s legal best to manage the distribution of its intellectual property, however you’ve done no damage or so bit as to satisfy my threshold of acceptability.
The columnist, Randy Cohen, goes on to acknowledge that those in the book company disagree strongly. however I discover myself greatly sympathetic to the situation. In the situation of our comics, it’s not because of weight, however to condition.
My husband, an old-school comic fan, is a fanatic for keeping the periodical comics in near-perfect shape. Me, I’m not rather so cautious with them (since for me, they’re to be checked out as well as most likely forgotten before the next chapter comes out). My graphic novels are sturdier as well as hold up much better to sloppy handling. So to keep the peace, as well as prevent having an dissatisfied husband, I’m contemplating downloading versions of the comics we have already bought. That way, KC has the paper objects, as well as I have versions to checked out without fretting about what condition they’re in or if I’m stacking them as well high or stacking things on top of them. Plus, I can take comic books with me while traveling, something I’d otherwise never finish with private issues. (I checked out them as well rapidly to validate the area in packing them.)
Let me reiterate: we’ve paid for these problems (and these days, because we often purchase without preordering, that’s commonly cover price, which seems excessive). When I brought this up on Twitter, Ed explained that, while he hates scans, he might see the logic, elaborating “that’s a true grey area. You might just scan in your own comics. Instead, you let ‘a friend’ do it.”
I know, this is self-indulgent of me. If I wished to be really legal, I’d purchase two copies of each comic, perhaps, as well as trash one when I was done reading it away from home. (What a squander of money as well as paper!) Or I’d purchase those few that were offered for pay digitally, even though a few of them, I wouldn’t be able to download as well as might only gain access to them when I had Web gain access to on the road. I understand it’s legal to make backup copies of your own CDs as well as DVDs, however has that ever been adjudicated to prolong to print works? as well as does it matter whether I do the scanning myself or utilize somebody else’s? ought to it?
Since I’m trip myself as in some cases taking a look at pirate comic sites, I’m likewise going to note that it’s a poor indication if a specific comic isn’t offered on the web within a week. That implies nobody cares about the book. The big, prominent franchises are the very first to hit, with other books dripping out. in some cases copying isn’t the threat; obscurity is.
Share this:
Twitter
Facebook
Tumblr
Related Posts:
The digital Future of ComicsChris Arrant interviews Dan Vado at Newsarama about EyeMelt, his digital comic store (link no longer available). Whether or not this specific venture succeeds, this is what people have been asking for. only not really. They state “I want less expensive legal on the internet comics.” Ok, comics at EyeMelt are 69 or…
Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: lost Villainesses of golden Age ComicsAs a followup to last year’s Divas, Dames & Daredevils: lost Heroines of golden Age Comics, Mike Madrid now has a buddy volume out. Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: lost Villainesses of golden Age Comics focuses on a few of the poor women as well as evil women published from 1940-1950. below you’ll find…
A curious ManThe unusual as well as fantastic Life of Robert “Believe It or Not!” Ripley I hadn’t believed about “Ripley’s believe It or Not!” in years. I keep in mind reading it as a kid, before the Web made it much simpler to discover these type of strange factoids as well as info about different cultures. And…
