Re: Copyright Law and ARCs

On Sun, 30 May 1999, Rickey R. Mallory <rrmallory[_at_]mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> Are there laws which address ARCs or 'advance review copies'
> otherwise known as 'bound galleys' of books, which are sent to
> reviewers. The copies are always stamped or printed 'not for
> resale.' Is this protected by law? The question arises because
> of the sale of ARCs either as collector's items or as used books.
> (These uncorrected copies of books are sent out for review
> purposes, usually cheaply bound with a low quality paper cover,
> even for hardback books.)

     From my perspective in Canada, once somone has legally acquired such a proof copy and has physical posession and ownership, unless one has undertaken an obligation *not* to resell, one is perfectly free to do with it what one wishes. I do not think just having accepted a copy so stamped is sufficient an obligation. But I'm not a lawyer and may not understand this area in law well enough. From the copyright standpoint, I think the proof copy is already protected as a work (unless it is a reprinting of a work already in the PD), and there is no restriction in copyright law (Canada *or* the U.S.A.) regarding resale. These comments are not to be taken as legal advice, etc.

Cheers,

Bernard Katz, Head, Special Collections and Library Development McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph, Guelph ON Canada N1G 2W1

   and Chair, Ontario Library Association Copyright Task Force bkatz[_at_]uoguelph.ca // (519) 824-4120 X2089 // FAX: (519) 824-6931 Received on Fri Jun 04 1999 - 15:48:18 GMT