Is it legal to sell e-books after you've purchased them? I ask because there is an e-book of Vampire Interrupted for sale on Ebay. I remember when I bought a couple of e-books there was a disclaimer during the process that said you were not allowed to do this.

Denise, as far as I'm aware the answer is no. This one for sale may well be an example of piracy but I can't say for sure as I can't find the item yo mention.

Can you post the item number so I can have a look at the item in question.

Dave

Ebay removed the item. I did some searching in Ebay policies and it is against their policy to sell ebooks unless you are the author of said book. So I tattled, er... reported the items to the proper authorities. This Singapore seller had about 6 ebooks up for sell and I'm assuming all of them were shut down. VI was the only one I was keeping an eye on.

Way to go, Denise!

Thanks Denise,

I'm sure they'll be reposted in a few days time. I'll keep an eye out for them and lodge my own objection when they do.

Dave

I understand what E-Books are (well sort of, kinda live in the stone age here) but just out of curiosity why would it be considered piracy? Or is that a stupid question?

Jill I think that is a good question, I don't really understand either.

Jodi

Can they be easily copied electronically and sold...keeping the author and publisher and others from being paid, etc.?

That would be like burning CDs or DVDs and selling them, instead of it being the authentic product.

just wondering...Oh, I've been caught on the computer again!

ttfn, wren

(Oh, I asked, and My Frog Prince says that they can be copied and pirated this way...and it is illegal and a very bad thing to do!)

Thanks Wren! and thanks to your hubby too!

Jodi

okay that makes more sense.

Add to that when you buy the e-book you accept the terms up front that you will only keep a copy for your own personal use and not duplicate it or sell it. It says this right at the front of the book: "eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work."

It's basically stealing. No different than printing copies of a paperback, or tearing off the paperback covers and reporting them stolen...then selling them for personal gain.

Those kinds of things happen, too.

People who copy e-books know they are doing wrong...they just don't care that they are hurting others. That includes us, the readers and fans of the authors, because it hurts the authors and publishers...who legitimately own the work and should be the ones who profit from it.

wren

That sucks that people do that... but I've seen it done in other arenas too... I took some celebrity pics at a Soap Opera event once... which I shared online with others without even thinking... well I ws thinking it was the right thing to do... I don't sell my Pics... I share them with other fans... yet I found them on Ebay up for auction... not by me of course... I had to say... whoa... wait a minute... I reported them of course... and gave the links to them out freely to the people wanting them...

Singapore ebay does that a lot. I looked at th Undead books on ebay... They sell them anyway. Mr Spice is right, they will just relist them....

I don't get it. How are they getting away with relisting if what they are doing is illegal?

I have a very strong predjustice against Ebay. I know of too many people who got scammed on it.

i sell books on ebay...but your right, you have to watch yourselves!....

g3

They get away with it because it's so big there is no way for Ebay officials to monitor everything that is listed. They depend on other Ebayers to report unethical activity.

Oh I hope I didn't offend See open mouth insert foot.

no offend at all....

I am small time, figured it passes the time while hubby is gone, and makes BOOK MONEY!

My mother reads about 10 books in a week
(I KNOW RIGHT!) So the ones she dosn't want to keep, she gives them to me!

Its something to do!

G3

Denise - I don't think eBay is too big to monitor itself - I think they just prefer not having to do it, not spending the money it would cost to do so while (wrongly) claiming it's not their responsibility.

To me it's a little bit like not having a police force and asking ordinary people to drag criminals into the courts for prosecution whenever they see a crime being committed.

Dave

Yeah, and I don't like having to be the one to turn in the criminals!

Yeah who wants to play hall monitor

does that mean yardsale books are bad? darn...

No, reselling physical books is not illegal, but it does mean that the author is not getting the credit for sales of a used book. But, being realistic, there is no way most of us book-aholics could ever afford to buy the number of books we read at full retail price. Thus the popularity of UBS's. For me, I buy an author that has won me over completely and I can't wait for the book to show up at the UBS. I must have it NOW! Lynsay is one of those. There are only about 4 or 5 of those on my list because I know I'm going to love their book, add it to my KEEPER shelf and not the UBS or Ebay pile.