I bought an e-reader for travel and was eager to begin “Under the Dome,” the new Stephen King novel. Unfortunately, the electronic version was not yet available. The publisher apparently withheld it to encourage people to buy the more expensive hardcover. So I did, all 1,074 pages, more than three and a half pounds. Then I found a pirated version online, downloaded it to my e-reader and took it on my trip. I generally disapprove of illegal downloads, but wasn’t this O.K.? C.D., BRIGHTWATERS, N.Y.
An illegal download is — to use an ugly word — illegal. But in this case, it is not unethical. Author and publisher are entitled to be paid for their work, and by purchasing the hardcover, you did so. Your subsequent downloading is akin to buying a CD, then copying it to your iPod.
Buying a book or a piece of music should be regarded as a license to
enjoy it on any platform. Sadly, the anachronistic conventions of
bookselling and copyright law lag the technology. Thus you’ve violated
the publishing company’s legal right to control the distribution of its
intellectual property, but you’ve done no harm or so little as to meet
my threshold of acceptability.
[...]
Continua qui:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/magazine/04FOB-ethicist-t.html