Using Copyrighted Works in Other Countries ?

[decenso]

Below is a discussion I am having with a brother about the website biblecentre DOT net. Any advice woould be appreciated.
=======================





<brother>,

From my perspective, this person or organization has somehow obtained a lot of resources and made them public - an online library, if you will. But if in Nigeria its not against the law to copy/use materials from other sources (while citing where they are from), am I breaking American law by using that site? Is my Christian conscience somehow seared so that it doesn't bother me? I hope not!

Obviously, if they are Christians, they are not convicted by their placing this material in the public's reach. This possible lack of conviction may stem from culturally appropriate praxis.

In the USA, many inner city or rural pastors and leaders would have to travel to a library, perhaps many, many miles away to access some of these references. They would never spend $500+ on Kittel's or many of the other resources. Is it wrong for them to take advantage of this online resource, albeit, one that would be illegal in the USA, but not in Nigeria? And are they still lawbreakers if they are in a different country?

I'm not arguing or debating - these are some issues I need to resolve in my mind. Since I feel differently than you, I really want to know if I'm wrong because I greatly respect you, your discernment, and your ministry!!!!



----- Original Message -----



From:


Date: Thursday, April 8, 2004 10:22 am


Subject: RE: RE: RE: Link




> As long as you don't download it on your computer, can access it in
> legal form at the library and don't promote it to others who can't
> alsoaccess the printed info, it may be OK to use for copying and
> pasting and
> searches. You are essentially looking at an illegal copy but not
> owningor copying it except for normal academic/writing references.
>
>
>
> On the other hand, by using the site, you are encouraging the
> law-breakers to continue their work. That's the real rub. It
> encouragesthem to sin against a brother (the author & publishers)
> by stealing
> their legally protected profits.
>
>
>
> I would avoid the site.

 

[Sketcher]

There are also international copyright treaties to consider.

 

[Bradford]

There is international copyright at issue here. Just because Lagos doesn't think it should be illegial- doesn't meen Interpol is going to agree (They won't).

I'd stay away.

 

[R2_Wildfire]

We gotta remember that anything copyrighted in the U.S. is copyrighted internationally. The bad part is that in other countries you may not be persecuted for breaking copyright laws. Theyhave much bigger things to worry about. I'm pretty sure that although you don't own the stuff, you can still get some kind of chrages forhaving it on your CPU if thy were to investigate. But not something huge as the one who does own it.

 

[lala]

These are copyright materials and cannot be duplicated by more than 10% of the number of pages in the book or one chapter. Anything above that is violation of the law.

At least that's what my law says.