Hi All,

I have a module (B2)brought from an ebay seller that I am convinced is a (photo)copy.

reasons are

--cover has that 'wax' feel of modern print techniques
--cover is 2mm taller than contents
--contents is 2mm taller than another copy I have here.
--layout/positioning/borders of cover is different to another of the same module I have
--cover print is slightly blurred compared to my other copy
--inside booklet has black print smudges that are characteristic of photocopiers
--inside booklet stapes are different size (that of a 'normal' stapler)
--22 year old module looks unbelievably white

Of course a lot of this could be explaned by being a different print edition to my other copy (if there where different printings of these modules) - but add to it the following circumstantial evidence.

--seller has admitted disembling books for copying.
--seller has already appeared in this thread.

What do you think I should do - for the time being I am keeping it as evidence ... for the ammount of money involved it isn't worth any hassle, but it's sad knowing that he's making money by doing this. Maybe I should sell my own H1-4 'supermodule'  

The ironic thing is - I would be more than willing to but reproductions at a reasonable price (where is that pdf printing service?)

anyone know wjo owns the MERP copyright now??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=44111

Cheeky git!!  

This is also really common on a more minor scale - the MERP maps are really great - and were designed to be removed for play.  Obviously, the modules don't sell for anywhere near as much if the maps are missing - so many sellers have taken to offering a CD with a map scan alongside (or even the whole item).

On the one hand it is still copyright infringement, on the other, maybe not the crime of the century.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=2544

Can someone report this? I e-mailed the seller a warning.

This seller is wrong.  This is not a patent.  Let's clear up the copyright laws that exist:

HOW LONG COPYRIGHT PROTECTION ENDURES

Works Originally Created on or after January 1, 1978

A work that is created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death. In the case of "a joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire," the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author's death. For works made for hire, and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author's identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Works Originally Created before January 1, 1978, But Not Published or Registered by That Date

These works have been automatically brought under the statute and are now given federal copyright protection. The duration of copyright in these works will generally be computed in the same way as for works created on or after January 1, 1978: the life-plus-70 or 95/120-year terms will apply to them as well. The law provides that in no case will the term of copyright for works in this category expire before December 31, 2002, and for works published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright will not expire before December 31, 2047.

Works Originally Created and Published or Registered before January 1, 1978

Under the law in effect before 1978, copyright was secured either on the date a work was published with a copyright notice or on the date of registration if the work was registered in unpublished form. In either case, the copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the date it was secured. During the last (28th) year of the first term, the copyright was eligible for renewal. The Copyright Act of 1976 extended the renewal term from 28 to 47 years for copyrights that were subsisting on January 1, 1978, or for pre-1978 copyrights restored under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), making these works eligible for a total term of protection of 75 years. Public Law 105-298, enacted on October 27, 1998, further extended the renewal term of copyrights still subsisting on that date by an additional 20 years, providing for a renewal term of 67 years and a total term of protection of 95 years.

Public Law 102-307, enacted on June 26, 1992, amended the 1976 Copyright Act to provide for automatic renewal of the term of copyrights secured between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977. Although the renewal term is automatically provided, the Copyright Office does not issue a renewal certificate for these works unless a renewal application and fee are received and registered in the Copyright Office.

Public Law 102-307 makes renewal registration optional. Thus, filing for renewal registration is no longer required in order to extend the original 28-year copyright term to the full 95 years. However, some benefits accrue from making a renewal registration during the 28th year of the original term.

As you can see from this information, at the very least it is covered for 28 years plus an additional 67 years after the first 28 years have passed!

If you are interested in more information this was duplicated from the following government site:

U.S. Copyright Office

Maybe it would be enough to send her the info posted here...  You could also send the copyright violation to ebay.

Reported:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=44112

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=44112

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=44112

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=44112

Okay, I am looking for some opinions.  Sometimes I sell items without the map booklet - like Temple of Elemental Evil or Scourge of the Slavelords.  Of course, I am always very clear that it is not included (even though I could easily make a copy).

So, what I am wondering is:  do you think it would be okay if I offered a copy of the maps to the winning bidder AFTER the auction - as an added gift.  Obviously, I would be honor bound not to mention this until after the auction ended and I received payment.  That way the inclusion of the map copies wouldn't affect the final biding.

I am just trying to be helpful on this - not to make any extra profit.

I'd appreciate any feedback.

So, what I am wondering is: do you think it would be okay if I offered a copy of the maps to the winning bidder AFTER the auction - as an added gift. Obviously, I would be honor bound not to mention this until after the auction ended and I received payment. That way the inclusion of the map copies wouldn't affect the final biding.

I am just trying to be helpful on this - not to make any extra profit.

These guys who copy entire modules in pdf and sell them 20 at a time on a disc are blatantly stealing.  When you sell an incomplete original item you, in essence, are selling the copyright of that material to the buyer.  You're also selling an item that is incomplete and therefore not as valuable.

As long as you're selling an item that is original but is now incomplete, I see no problem with offering to send along photocopies of the missing pages or maps free of charge.  


I often include this as a free option in the auction description of items I sell at buyers request.  Keep in mind these items were once paid for and the manufacturer has already profited from the sale of the item you are now reselling.  By offering to make an incomplete item whole, you're not stealing, in a way you're repairing an item and making it whole again, similar to taping the corner of a box set.  As long as the photocopies are offered free of charge there is nothing illegal about it.  Just don't photocopy and sell the entire thing!  That would be a no no.