Libraries that order reprints of scarce or out of print materials might use
caution if dealing with the firm whose questionable "business model" is
described in the article at this link:
>
> http://new.businesscommonsense.com/enews/fullStory.bsp?sid=32029&var=story
>
They have been caught reprinting many works that are still under copyright.
Some copyright holders will pursue things with more vigor than others, and
there have been circumstances when buyers of copies of infringed works have
been pursued to return the copies they purchased. Before buying anything
from this outfit or any other firm offering print -on-demand, or reprints of
scarce or out-of-print works, a buyer would be prudent to determine whether
the work in question is still in copyright and whether the person offering
the reprint is legally entitled to do so. If a work was published after 1923
there is a possibility the copyright was renewed and is still under
copyright. Also, even if a work published before 1923 is being reprinted, it
cannot contain any textual changes made after 1923 because those would be
protected under copyright (ie, you can't reprint a 1945 edition of a work
just because it was first published in 1845).
This same firm has also been the subject of much discussion in the book
trade for the way they obtain the texts they reprint. Numerous booksellers
have reported that this firm will order a book via ABE or credit card, and
later return the book claiming it was ordered in error, and attempt to get a
refund or obtain a charge-back. The presumption, of course, is that they
have copied the work for reprinting while it was in their possession.
Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
info@macdonnellrarebooks.com
Member: ABAA, ILAB
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