Re: PDF files on company Intranet?

On Tue, Jan 18, 2000, Staffan Teste <teste[_at_]blf.se> wrote:
>
> On Jan 14 2000, Xiao Jinhong <limabean[_at_]pobox.org.sg> wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, 13 Jan 2000, Laurie Urquiaga <urquiagal[_at_]lawgate.byu.edu> wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually, I see a big difference. If you have a paper copy, and
> > > route that copy to all of the interested parties (no copying
> > > involved, unless an individual makes one for him/herself), I think
> > > it would clearly be allowed.
> >
> > But you seem to think that it would be permissible for an individual
> > to make a copy for him/herself personally. Unless that is fair use,
> > it would infringe.
> >
> > > What about a subscription that comes electronically that is
> > > stored on a network in such a way that it can be viewed by only one
> > > workstation at a time? There is no transformation of the work involved,
> > > and without multiple simultaneous users, where's the infringement?
> >
> > When a computer "views" the PDF file stored on a network, it would be
> > making a copy. Therein lies the infringing act (subject to defences,
> > including fair use).
> >
> > > Even if a user independently prints (or even downloads) all/part of
> > > the pdf, what's the difference between that and a single user making
> > > a scan or copy of a routed periodical?
> >
> > None. But in both situations, the copyright would be infringed (at risk
> > of sounding anal :), that's subject to defences).
>
> Lets take it from the beginning again.
>
> Somebody produces a pdf-file with for example pictures articles and
> so on. Someone else want to have it at his or her office and
> download it on the office server.
>
> Then it is illeagal. You cannot download it on the office server
> without making a copy. There were copyrightmaterial in the pdf-file.
> They are protected by the copyright law, Berne convention, TRIP and
> so on. It is not allowed to make copies for company use even if it
> is not seen on the company's Intranet.
>
> If you make a copy for yoerself that is something different. But
> here it was downloaded to show everybody on an Intranet on an office.
> It is illegal. It is not allowed to do so without asking the
> copyrightholders and usually pay for it. The law in this case is
> the same in US as in Europe.

What if you only provided the link to everyone and then they could download the copy for themselves? There has to be a source and the source controls it. If the source sends it, cannot I then forward it to a group of people. Outlook 2000 even allows a ring of people to be created in which one receives the document then comments if they want to and then sends it on. Adobe Writer does the same thing if everyone wanted to buy that software package. I truly believe that the copyright laws did not envision this, yet private industry does and essentially protects their own product.

Greg Erkins
<gerkins[_at_]gci.net> Received on Wed Jan 19 2000 - 11:20:17 GMT