Dumb question... but is it legally okay to resell other's works?

Linda -

> Dumb question, perhaps, but is it legally
> okay to barter (or trade) someone else's
> copyrighted work in return for an item of
> value.

Quite legal. Just like trading in a car on a different model. The copyright, as long as you don't violate it by copying illegally, has *nothing* to do with it. There are bookstores that will take your old paperbacks in trade for newer ones.

> That's not the case if the dentist is giving
> you something that he does not own the
> copyright to, is it?

Again, the copyright has nothing to do with it.

> With software, that would be considered
> theft and piracy. But with print materials?
> Ebooks?

Nope. It's *not* piracy with software. In fact, *many* software licenses state that you may transfer the license as long as you transfer all materials and remove it from your machine. It's piracy when you make a copy, trade or sell that, and keep a copy on your machine as well.

> Let's say the marketing course is in printed
> format. If I go to Coles' and buy a Stephen
> King book and finish reading it, I am free
> to give it to someone else. But am I allowed
> to resell it and make a profit on it?

Gordon's talking about *trading* info products. Nobody's selling anything. Besides, it's most certainly legal to resell used info products. Ever heard of bookstores selling used books? *g* What's the difference?

> I don't think that's legally kocher,
> although I'm not really sure, and I do know
> that people do it at garage sales every
> weekend.

As I explained above, there are no legal nor moral ramifications to anything we discussed above.

> When it comes to infoproducts, though, which
> is a pretty touchy market to begin with, is
> the person that bought the "other"
> courses allowed to give them to you?

Same answer as before. As long I give or sell you the complete product, I'm in good shape morally and legally. Used infoproducts are sold on eBay all the time. And why do you think infoproducts is a "touchy market?" What does that mean?

> Maybe the best idea would be for anyone
> interested in the trade to check the
> policies on the package they purchased to be
> sure?

Typically, the only "policy" I see on the infoproducts *I* purchase is the copyright. And to find out the specifics of copyright law, you can visit www.loc.gov. There's a link there that will take you to the Copyright Office page where you can download PDFs that explain copyright law in great detail.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


Click Here to Get a Great New Life In 10 Days