I definately think the pdf's have hurt the prices of modules. Many players that I talk to mention that they would have bought the actual module if a pdf was not available. I think it was a mistake to have released items like the jade hare on pdf because its easily available to download and noone has to pay a jade hare price to get it.

My personal opinion is that pdf files have caused a decrease in prices, this is especialy true for people wishing to only have the item to play, if its an origional or a pdf , who cares, the pdf printes as good as the origional. I would say this has greatly affected those items in good or less condition, items that are very good+ will still attact those willing to pay higher prices for an origional module in good condition.   Now how much is a pdf file worth, my opinion ZERO Dollars! Once one file is out there they seem to multiply of their own free will. I can go right now and download most (if not all) the pdf versions of AD&D files, some of them origional some of them scanned of books not done, Why would anyone pay for one when you can do that?? and when they are not paying for an origional or pdf, demand falls and with it prices...  At the end of the day I would much rather have an origional module 100% of the time no matter what the condition rather than a PDF or other electronic file.... in truth I would rather not have the item than a pdf   also on the sale of pdf files, every so often you can see something like this...  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=2545  hmm....cost $55 and you get, what 200 odd items? (sorry can't be bothered counting em) cost to seller, 1 cd and time to burn it! and its not the first time he has done it as well...  also another pet peve of mine is photocopied items!!! Another item that is worthless in my opinion!! (the only ones that I know that were approved , were some photocopies of some Judges Guild items...)   Brette:)

beasterbrook wrote:also on the sale of pdf files, every so often you can see something like this...  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=2545

 and just to prove he is doing it again and again.....  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=2545  I also see the D&D cartoon regularly for auction on ebay as well.... now sure I would like  a copy of em but why pay anywhere near this amount of money for something that is basically an illegal copy???

As someone how owns nearly 650 pdf's (that's right...I said own), I think I will throw my two cents into the fray...I, like many other collectors, probably don't want to take out their orange B3 on the train to work in the morning so a pdf file definitely serves a purpose.  The real debate is how much they have hurt the collectable market.  I think they have virtually destroyed the market for lesser quality items, however I believe the high quality items are still holding steady.   I think a perfect example of this could be seen with the ST1 auction going on right now.  If a .pdf for the ST1 existed (maybe one does), do you think that auction going on right now for that one would be at $850 bucks.  I don't think so.  However, if Malcolm was throwing one of his 'pristine' babies out there, I could easily see myself indulging at this price.  A pdf will never measure up to a crinkly shrinkwrapped module.  At least to me anyway, but there is nothing better than dumping one to the printer before you go and take a dump! (It's late and I am tired, sorry. )

Electronic releases sereve their purpose, I guess.  Look at To the city of Brass. I have the Blackmoor supplement in PDF but nothing other then that, since I haven't played in 10+ years.  If I can't get the real thing, I just go without it.  While I wouldn't bother with them, Xerox copies don't upset me - so long as no one tries to pass them off as the real thing.  Bootleg material (unless it was done on a scale never before attempted, i.e. a true printing press reprint) is, in my oppinion, worthless.

Not sure of the copyright laws, but this is not allowed right? Someone should contact ebay and report this person.

Some of the modules in the list are not pdfs from the companies but from alt.binaries.e-book.rpg, kazaa, ...  Ã

Len is all fired up!! Go get him Len!   Its not right he is profitting from all this! And some people are actually paying him!  PS. Len did you have to pay for your pdfs or were most of them free dls? I know there are many free dl pdfs but then there are also pdfs that you have to pay for.

red_bus wrote:OK, I am not a lawyer (phew) but i thought I would stick my pennysworth in anyway.  I am pretty sure it is illegal to copy modules etc.. and sell them (i.e. not simply for your personal use) under most countries jurisdictions.  For example; in the UK, copyright for a novel lasts for 50 years after your death (I think).

 Right.  Though you're not allowed to copy it for your personal use, either, unless you own the original.  

red_bus wrote:Interestingly, however I have been offered PDFs of MERP modules (all of them) for sale - as long as I sign a waiver stating that I own the said books.  So, in that case could the person then argue that they were simply providing a copying service??

 Nope -- both parties are still doing something illegal.  Most published copyrights have the phrase "may not be reproduced whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher".  If you truly do own the original, yes, a court isn't going to argue with you if you're making a copy for your own personal use (and you're not using that copy to make money, or to publish somewhere else, etc).  But that right does not extend to a third party -- in your case, the seller does not have permission to make a copy of anything, much less make a profit from this copy.  You, as the buyer, could certainly get dragged into the lawsuit as well; a judge is not likely to believe that you found it more convenient to purchase a copy off eBay instead of going down to Kinko's.  People who are foolish enough to peddle copyrighted material on eBay are running a huge risk.  Large companies like WotC / Hasbro probably have at least one person employed whose primary job is to scour the Internet and eBay, looking for people who are making a profit off their published works.  Lastly, in response to an earlier post -- eBay will not pay any attention to you, or I, if we bring these sellers to the attention of their fraud department.  They will only entertain complaints from the copyright holder / intellectual property holder themselves; therefore, if you're really steamed at these people, contact WotC about it directly and let them take action.  Foul