TradeMe manuals being sold for $50 are from the public domain for free

**theporkbonekid** · 23rd October 2008, 06:20

Originally Posted by xwhatsit

I think his assumption was correct -- if it's in the public domain, then it isn't really copyrighted.

@DB: Yeah, sure, he can do what he likes, and the tomato analogy too wrong. But -- and you should understand this, being a user of open-source software too (it wouldn't be sustainable without proper acknowledgements) -- I think it's good karma to be as transparent as possible when it comes to this sort of stuff.

Certainly nothing to involve the police or Trademe about, though.

Another one eyed comment, with only tunnel vision....

**Katman** · 23rd October 2008, 09:04

Regarding copyright - I think we can safely assume that these manuals are most definately subject to copyright.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...p-73527670.htm

Click on the cover picture and look at the bottom right corner.

**imdying** · 23rd October 2008, 09:12

I wouldn't have thought that setting up yourself in business using pirated goods was the smartest thing to do

What is this, freakin China??

**Badjelly** · 23rd October 2008, 10:10

Originally Posted by theporkbonekid

...just remember that most manuals for classic motorcycles are free in the public domain...

What is your basis for making this statement? Are you saying they were never subject to copyright (sounds unlikely to me), that the copyright has expired, or that the copyright has been explicitly removed by the holder?

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 23rd October 2008, 10:18

Originally Posted by Badjelly

What is your basis for making this statement? Are you saying they were never subject to copyright (sounds unlikely to me), that the copyright has expired, or that the copyright has been explicitly removed by the holder?

Copyrights do expire, and or the holder of the copyright can put in to Public Domain.

**vifferman** · 23rd October 2008, 10:31

The manuals ARE copyrighted, but most/many of them have been available on various websites/forums/blogs for some time, as illegal scanned PDFs. I'd say that whoever the TardMe trader is, they have latched onto one of the sites that has gathered together all/most/many of the manuals (or at least links to them) in once place, and is printing and binding them. They are in the main not, and never have been, public domain manuals. Some may be, but generally they are not.
TradeMe either don't know or don't care about this.

It's not illegal for someone to charge for making copies of, and binding any form of printed matter, provided it's not copyright, or they have permission/ a licence from the owner of the copyright to do so. They can charge whatever they think someone will pay for it. It's no different to selling anything else.

**FROSTY:Me** · 23rd October 2008, 10:32

Originally Posted by theporkbonekid

Such a shame that my orginal posting has been edited, makes you wonder if this trader is a member of this forum. e-classicbike.c is the rogue traders name. I will not post or share knowledge on this site if the MODERATORS continue to censor information that my fellow members deserve. A pity that the moderators do allow fucken abuse, fucken slander and allow members to call other members fucken names...

Saying stuff like that is just gonna get peoples backs up.
Your point is taken -someone is making money selling copies of manuals.
Please get MY point.
The times I need a manual I'm either in the middle of the pits at a race meeting or I'm standing in my gargre far from a puter in either case.
In both cases I want the manual in my hand there n then.
In both cases I believe that the $50 I paid for hard copies of the manual was money well spent.
Incidently Im not really a puter person so Ive bought genuine Haynes and Clymers from tech books.

What I don't quite understand is why you are upset that someone is making money by thinking laterally.

**The Pastor** · 23rd October 2008, 10:47

Originally Posted by riffer

Exactly.

At 16c a page, they're hardly creaming it.

Before you hassle people for this, try and actually do it yourself. Shitty way to make a living doing one-offs I reckon.

try 4c a page mate

**The Pastor** · 23rd October 2008, 10:53

alot of the old bike manuals will have expired copy rights.- you dont find the new bike ones on the site that was linked to

**Ixion** · 23rd October 2008, 10:58

Abandonware. The original publishers are long out of business, and anyone who has technically come into possession of any remaining copyright is completely uninterested . (Not that all those listed , or any of them, may be in that category. Just saying, it exists)

**The Stranger:Me** · 23rd October 2008, 10:59

Originally Posted by renegade master

alot of the old bike manuals will have expired copy rights.

They expire?
After how long please?

**Ixion** · 23rd October 2008, 11:12

50 years. Either after the death of the author (in the case of a "normal" book), or , more probably in the case of manuals, 50 years after first publication. ref Copyright Act 1994.

**The Pastor** · 23rd October 2008, 11:53

Originally Posted by Ixion

50 years. Either after the death of the author (in the case of a "normal" book), or , more probably in the case of manuals, 50 years after first publication. ref Copyright Act 1994.

I thought it was dependent on how long the copyright was purchased for?