Comments on: War of the Worlds: Get the e-book free http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:38:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Greg http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-114475 Greg Fri, 10 Nov 2006 04:49:25 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-114475 If you ever get a chance to, listen to the old audio recording of the original War of the Worlds. It's pretty good, and people throught it was really happening when they heard it on the radio. If you ever get a chance to, listen to the old audio recording of the original War of the Worlds. It’s pretty good, and people throught it was really happening when they heard it on the radio.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1058 David Rothman Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:35:30 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1058 Cool. Lemme know when PG makes the changes, and I'll do a friendly item noting that commercial publishers, too, should care. As for your comments to the TeleBlog, the truth is that I've privately done a deal with Random House to collect 'em in a book for a cool $3 million. NOT ONE PENNY, Branko, will go to you. All of the money is destined for the Sonny Bono Reincarnation Society. OK. Secret is out. Now you know why Sonny's widow wanted copyright to last one day short of eternity. David Cool. Lemme know when PG makes the changes, and I’ll do a friendly item noting that commercial publishers, too, should care.

As for your comments to the TeleBlog, the truth is that I’ve privately done a deal with Random House to collect ‘em in a book for a cool $3 million.

NOT ONE PENNY, Branko, will go to you. All of the money is destined for the Sonny Bono Reincarnation Society. OK. Secret is out. Now you know why Sonny’s widow wanted copyright to last one day short of eternity.

David

]]> By: Branko Collin http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1053 Branko Collin Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:00:28 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1053 BTW, Greg wrote back that he is going to suggest a solution to the webmaster (<a href="http://www.gnutenberg.de" rel="nofollow">Marcello Perathoner</a>, if I am not mistaken). BTW, Greg wrote back that he is going to suggest a solution to the webmaster (Marcello Perathoner, if I am not mistaken).

]]> By: Branko Collin http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1052 Branko Collin Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:57:08 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1052 David, I am fine with how the Teleread blog is. I realize that it is different with PG, if only because PG has to set the right example. But on a legal level it there is no difference. Until recently, copyright has always been about getting along. Authors sued publishers, not readers. And we still identify the trouble-makers (RIAA, MPAA, the DOJ) by the fact that they are not trying to get along, but stage a war instead. The fact that we don't need no stinking copyrights most of the time (except to stop outright plagiarism, brand-theft and commercial use of our mostly non-commercial writings) shows that most of the world is still comfortable with the old copyright model, where not every use required permission and not every statement a license. I am perfectly happy to let you do with my comments whatever you wish, as long as you do not change them. :-) No license required. David, I am fine with how the Teleread blog is. I realize that it is different with PG, if only because PG has to set the right example. But on a legal level it there is no difference.

Until recently, copyright has always been about getting along. Authors sued publishers, not readers. And we still identify the trouble-makers (RIAA, MPAA, the DOJ) by the fact that they are not trying to get along, but stage a war instead.

The fact that we don’t need no stinking copyrights most of the time (except to stop outright plagiarism, brand-theft and commercial use of our mostly non-commercial writings) shows that most of the world is still comfortable with the old copyright model, where not every use required permission and not every statement a license. I am perfectly happy to let you do with my comments whatever you wish, as long as you do not change them. :-) No license required.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1048 David Rothman Thu, 30 Jun 2005 17:01:11 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1048 OK, Branko. Since you contribute very-much-appreciated comments for the TeleBlog, you're part of the show. Draft a short copyright statement that I can put on an FAQ page for TeleRead. In my opinion, the CC link from the blog covers the essentials, and if any contributors want more restrictive use, then they can advise me or say so themselves. As for parts of the site outside the blog, everyone was working for free and did not expect any big deals. No one has raised copyright issues. If that happens, though, I'm ready to insert appropriate notices. PG is a somewhat different situation from TeleRead. When it does excerpts from public domain classics, they at times may be just about the only text on the page. I don't see this as a major issue for PG, but it is worth addressing. I'm trying to be helpful. We know how publishers love to claim public domain material as their own--and not just by accident as PG is doing. "By example" is the operative phrase. Thanks, and hello to Greg. David David OK, Branko. Since you contribute very-much-appreciated comments for the TeleBlog, you’re part of the show. Draft a short copyright statement that I can put on an FAQ page for TeleRead. In my opinion, the CC link from the blog covers the essentials, and if any contributors want more restrictive use, then they can advise me or say so themselves. As for parts of the site outside the blog, everyone was working for free and did not expect any big deals. No one has raised copyright issues. If that happens, though, I’m ready to insert appropriate notices.

PG is a somewhat different situation from TeleRead. When it does excerpts from public domain classics, they at times may be just about the only text on the page. I don’t see this as a major issue for PG, but it is worth addressing. I’m trying to be helpful. We know how publishers love to claim public domain material as their own–and not just by accident as PG is doing. “By example” is the operative phrase.

Thanks, and hello to Greg.

David

David

]]> By: Branko Collin http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 Branko Collin Wed, 29 Jun 2005 12:27:42 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1039 David, you are not addressing what's at the heart of the matter, both here and at PG; that parts of your site and of PG's come from different contributors. For instance, someone wrote WordPress, and they own the copyright on that. Someone wrote the entries, and they own the copyright on that. Someone wrote the comments, and they own the copyright on that. It is not clear from your license to which parts of your site it refers. You cannot relicence what you do not own. I suspect the problem at PG is simply that: that someone put a blanket statement in an HTML template that ended up on the entire site, even on the bits that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation does not own. Anyway, I sent off an e-mail to Greg Newby, because I do think this is an issue we should address, if only to set the right example. David, you are not addressing what’s at the heart of the matter, both here and at PG; that parts of your site and of PG’s come from different contributors. For instance, someone wrote WordPress, and they own the copyright on that. Someone wrote the entries, and they own the copyright on that. Someone wrote the comments, and they own the copyright on that.

It is not clear from your license to which parts of your site it refers. You cannot relicence what you do not own.

I suspect the problem at PG is simply that: that someone put a blanket statement in an HTML template that ended up on the entire site, even on the bits that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation does not own.

Anyway, I sent off an e-mail to Greg Newby, because I do think this is an issue we should address, if only to set the right example.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1036 David Rothman Wed, 29 Jun 2005 01:01:05 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1036 Hi, Branko. Unless the authors object--and no one has so far--everything on the whole TeleRead site falls under the CC license for free noncommercial use. I had the CC license on the blog even before I switched to our favorite blogging system. At some point I need to update the FAQ and mention that whole site is CC unless entries state otherwise. Meanwhile keep us posted on PG. I have this BIG thing against publishers trying to copyright PD stuff, and I'm confidence you share my feelings. I suspect that PG will have no problem setting a good example. Thanks. - David Hi, Branko. Unless the authors object–and no one has so far–everything on the whole TeleRead site falls under the CC license for free noncommercial use. I had the CC license on the blog even before I switched to our favorite blogging system. At some point I need to update the FAQ and mention that whole site is CC unless entries state otherwise. Meanwhile keep us posted on PG. I have this BIG thing against publishers trying to copyright PD stuff, and I’m confidence you share my feelings. I suspect that PG will have no problem setting a good example. Thanks. – David

]]> By: Branko Collin http://www.teleread.org/2005/06/28/war-of-the-worlds-get-the-e-book-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Branko Collin Tue, 28 Jun 2005 20:56:55 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3126#comment-1033 I see a license at the bottom of your webpage too. Is that for entries, for the entire site, or just for the WordPress template? ;-) But yes, some clarity would be nice, especially if we purport to distribute public domain works. I see a license at the bottom of your webpage too. Is that for entries, for the entire site, or just for the WordPress template? ;-)

But yes, some clarity would be nice, especially if we purport to distribute public domain works.

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