Copyright and Nero Questions

[WillyBWright]

I have an old aftermarket outboard parts manual from 1960. The publisher was Outdoors Inc. There is no copyright that I can see, but that page could be missing. I'm sure it would be 1960 plus or minus a year and I am assuming that it was copyrighted for the sake of argument. I have copied most of it excluding Evinrude, Gale, Johnson, and Mercury and created pdf files to write to CD.

Bottom line is that I want to burn the parts diagrams of manufacturers that are no longer making outboards to CD and sell them on eBay. I cannot find this publisher and I don't want to violate copyright laws. What are my options, or has the copyright expired anyhow? I'm not expecting googobs of sales, and pricing is going to be under $10 each. I imagine interest will involve just a handful of collectors. Brands include 1950s models of Muncie/Neptune, Scott Atwater, West Bend, Oliver.

The other question regards Nero and copy protection. Is there a way to burn a data CD so that the contents can't be copied? Granted anyone can print the pages and go through the process to make their own pdf files. But can I prevent direct copying of the CDs?

 

[i386]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

Let me make sure I have this straight. You want to put some information on CD that may or may not be copywrited. Then you want to impose some sort of copy protection on the CDs you produce?

I won't even speculate on the legality or selling the information, but for every way a cd has been copy protected there's been a way around it.


Here's an idea... Put some software on it that "phones home" to your computer so you can tell if it's a legitimate copy they're using. You can make it where it's partially crippled if it's not legitimate. People probably won't buy it knowing that though. Here's a better idea, make it download said software after they've used the CD a while. Gotta give it a name with some good marketing spin on it so it won't sound so invasive. We'll call it the WillyBWright Genuine Advantage. Yea that sounds good. Now they can copy it but it won't work anywhere else.

8)

 

[dolluper]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

This is very interesting as there have been many people selling PDF copies of you name it on E boy.As nobody complains well I guess your in business

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

Is there a way to burn a data CD so that the contents can't be copied?

No. If they can open the file they can copy the file. Also, most likely, people would rather be emailed the file than wait and pay for shipping.

As for the copyright, ebay doesn't care even if it is copyrighted. The absolute worst that could happen is they ask you to stop selling it, but they won't.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

Paypal payment and instant download is a great thing. I bought the plans to my kids playhouse that way. Very easy to setup as well.

....As far as legality..... who knows... but the thought "small fish" comes to mind.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

I have all the pages as far as I know, no sign of torn pages. No copyright information anywhere. The publisher doesn't seem to exist anymore, I never heard of them, and it's at least 50 years old. I'm only considering outboard brands that are no longer in business. Any of the above that weren't the case and I wouldn't even give it a passing thought. The e-mail attachment option sounds interesting. Thanks for your input pro and con.

 

[mscher]

You could try the old "mea culpa"

You could try the old "mea culpa"

I have all the pages as far as I know, no sign of torn pages. No copyright information anywhere. The publisher doesn't seem to exist anymore, I never heard of them, and it's at least 50 years old. I'm only considering outboard brands that are no longer in business. Any of the above that weren't the case and I wouldn't even give it a passing thought. The e-mail attachment option sounds interesting. Thanks for your input pro and con.

"it's better to ask for forgivness than for permission"

You could go ahead and publish it. If anyone that matters cares, you could possibly receive a "cease and decist" (??) letter, before they would do anything too extreme.

As far as protecting it from others reproducing it, good luck.

Copyright protection is like the wild west on the internet. Ebay will try to kick of tademark infingments auctions, but can't protect everything.

Good luck

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Copyright and Nero Questions

mmmmm,I got one of those seloc crap manuals on cd i bought off of ebay.
It is encrypted and you have to put in a password to view it.
So someone is doing this with the seloc stuff on ebay and must not be getting caught.