Christopher G. Mullin, Dorothy Sloan, and Frank Dobie
are to be complemented on their "OPEN SOURCE" policy
regarding book descriptions. However, I have to point
out that there is more than one way to run a railroad
and I would be quite surprised to discover that ALL of
Frank Dobie's bibliographical endeavors bear the same
notice on the copyright page.....
Trying to force everyone into the same business model
is never easy, and rarely results in good will between
parties.
As others have pointed out advertising text in the
world outside antiquarian/used bookselling (even in
NEW bookselling!) is protected by copyright law.
There is probably a reason for this. Since I'm not a
lawyer, an MBA, or an ethicist I'll just assume a good
reason and go with the majority of the world on this
instead of trying to reinvent the wheel and come up
with even MORE reasons why bookselling is different.
I have had dealers ask politely if they could use my
description after purchasing a cataloged book from me,
and I have always granted permission and felt
flattered that they appreciated my work. Granting a
blanket permission to all including database owners is
less appealing.
David
--- Christopher G Mullin <mullin@selway.umt.edu>
wrote:
> Well said, Dorothy!
>
> As a practical matter, if I buy a book from a
> catalog, I *know* what the
> description was. Perhaps I save the catalog
> description. If it's any
> good, that description is full of FACTS. If I later
> sell that book, many
> of those facts will in any case be in my own
> accurate description, whether
> I copied them from the earlier description or not.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 7 Apr 2003 DSloanRareBooks@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Dear Ambby,
> >
> > I am an auctioneer, rare book dealer, and
> appraiser. I am never bothered
> > when someone "steals" my descriptions. I suppose
> that I am secretly pleased
> > that someone thought enough of my work to "steal"
> it.
> >
> > In his introduction to Guide to the Life and
> Literature of the Southwest
> > (1942, 1952, etc.), J. Frank Dobie had printed on
> the copyright page: "Not
> > copyright. Anybody is welcome to help himself to
> any of it in any way."
> >
> > I agree with that generous idea. I learned a
> great deal from others, and if
> > my work can help anyone else, then I hope that
> they will feel free to use it.
> > I can only speak for myself and my cataloguing,
> but I do not consider my
> > descriptions to be classified as a valuable or
> sacred commodity that must be
> > protected.
> >
> > Certainly, acknowledging and quoting another's
> work is the best and most
> > courteous way to proceed.
> >
> > I like the concept of sharing knowledge and
> believe that it contributes to a
> > more enlightened world.
> >
> > Dorothy Sloan
=====
David Holloway, Bookseller
10208 Merridith Circle #205
Burke, VA 22015
(703) 239-0305
drhbooks@yahoo.com
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