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My layman's understanding of copyright law says you didn't commit a crime, but whoever sent you the book did commit a crime. My understanding is that it's not
by wccrawford 4y ago
My layman's understanding of copyright law says you didn't commit a crime, but whoever sent you the book did commit a crime. My understanding is that it's not illegal to download a book, it's illegal to distribute a book. (Or other copyrighted work.)
- 1123581321 4y agoNo, it is illegal to download (make a copy of) the book. To be legal, you would have to merely view the book without making a copy. This is the operating principle behind all those video streaming sites. This isn't a comment on what OP should have done.
- alwayslikethis 4y agoWouldn't the transmission over the network of the bits of the video count as an act of copying?
- 1123581321 4y agoLegally, no. That question has come up regarding things like browser caching as well. But the precedent is that it is not illegal to merely view copyrighted material you haven't licensed or bought, even if you happened to seek out that viewing.
- justinclift 4y agoDoesn't this vary according to the location of the participants? eg in some countries participation in some parts of it (uploading/downloading/etc) is legal, whereas in other countries it can be the other way around.
- 1123581321 4y agoYes. I assumed I was replying to Americans and shouldn't have.
- wccrawford 4y agoI stand corrected. Thanks!