[Web4lib] Amazon Deletes Orwell from Kindles

[Robert L. Balliot]

It seems that a cease and desist notification would take precedence
over 'Terms of Service' for customers.  Neither the seller nor
buyers had a right to the works. The penalties can be very severe. 

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5139862_penalties-violating-copyright-laws.html


*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Dowling
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 9:23 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Amazon Deletes Orwell from Kindles

On 07/20/2009 08:28 PM, Kelly Quinn wrote:
> What if a publisher sold the ebook for one price, then decided to pull
> the Kindle plug for "copyright issues", just so they can sell it for a
> higher price? I wouldn't be surprised if that's really what's
> happening here.

I don't believe there's any mystery about what happened here.  The books
came
from a source in one country (Australia) where they're out of copyright, but
got sold in at least one other country (U.S. of A.) where they're still in
copyright, without permission from the copyright owner.   What's surprising
and
disappointing is that, instead of apologizing to the copyright owner and
making
whatever amends (and restitution) the situation required, Amazon violated
their
own Terms of Service and deleted customers' paid-for copies.

[Some] e-books [may] require us to redefine what it means to "buy", "sell",
and
"own" a text, but none of that can excuse a vendor from establishing rules
and
then breaking them whenever they get a little flustered.


-- 
Thomas Dowling
tdowling at ohiolink.edu


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