Position:Home>Books & Authors> Is it illegal to copy a 1st Edition text book?

Unless the copyright has expired, it is most likely 100% illegal!.
A book can be out of print for 50 years and still be protected!.

also, some publisher's maintain a "backlist" of older versions and products that they still sell if you contact them (they often have extra stock of previous editions to replace those lost or destroyed by previous purchasers!. Say you have a class of 30 kids using the 1st edition and a few years later 2 of them lose their books!. The teacher would want to get 1st edition books to match the rest of the class rather than having 2 students using unmatched 3rd edition books)!.

There are fair use laws that allow a degree of copying for educational purposes, but rarely could you get away with an entire book!. In fact, the mere fact that you've asked this question now shows you questioned the validity of the copying and so you could not claim the "good faith fair use" defense, in which you might get off if you truly thought in good faith that the copying was legitimate!.

As for how you know when the copyright expires, it varies based on a number of factors (when it was copyrighted, by whom, in what nation, etc), but anything from 1980 on in American ranges between 75 and 105 years!. If your book was published prior to December 31, 1922, you should be OK!. Otherwise, you'd probably need permission from the copyright holder!.

If you work for an educational entity, like a school or university, you should ask them to help clarify what their policy is on the subject of fair use copying!. All educational institutions have a standing policy!. If you copy without asking them, you'll be in violation of the law AND your institution's policy!.

For example, the University of Texas system's rule of thumb is one chapter from a book or one article from a magazine as a limiting factor and it reminds you to include all copyright information with the work, even then!.
(http://www!.utsystem!.edu/ogc/intellectual!.!.!.

Then, contact the publisher to see about backlist stock on older editions or if they'll give you permission to copy the earlier one!.



Copyrights are so important to our culture and business practices as a nation that they are one of the few powers--alongside those like waging war and making treaties--that Congress was specifically given by the Constitution!.
(The Congress shall have Power [!. !. !.] To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

Would it hurt to write the copyright holder for written permission just to cover your school's butt!?

For only five students, heck they may send you some old stock of a newer edition! Tell them you need samples to submit to the school board as they are interested in updating the curriculum and you would like the board to use these books!.

It may not be the truth but when it comes to a child's education, you do what you got to do!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

if the copyright has expired then it's ok!.

however, you can copy up to thirty pages for educational purposs legally!.

so unless you are planning on copying hundreds of page!.

to be honest, if it's only for five people then i would just copy it who will know!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

Unless you have permission from the author, it is illegal to copy it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

if you copy something arent you supposed to give credit to the book!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

teachers at my school do that all the time, idk if it is actually legal though :]Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---

really it should say somewhere that it is forbidden by law to copy, but do it anyway if you cant find one!.
sshhh :PWww@QuestionHome@Com

---

---