Copying and distributing Kalmbach articles

[Anonymous]

I have had a lot of interest in David Barrow's domino articles and Linda Sand's. I had requested help with acquiring the info and sending it on to interested parties. But this apparently sparked a controversy in the Layout Design; this is of course from deduction since it is so heavily moderated, that only squeaky clean mice can enter their home.

So if I copy an article, lets say David's and give it to a friend, am I violating anything. And more interestingly, if I am, why aren't university students challenged - past, present and future, who pass on articles all the time.

From my perspective, one of the purposes of Model Railroader magazine is to offer help to those designing and building layouts. But my understanding is that if I copy an article for personal use, or pass it on to a friend without renumeration, I'm in the clear. So what is the scoop on passing articles on.

[douginut]

As I have heard it,
1. If I make a copy of the article for my own use, so as to not get glue on my cherished copies of MR I am within the "doctrine of fair use". and have the right to do so.

2. If I borrow a copy of MR and copy the same article lets say 5 copies, and pass out to friends then I am NOT "using fairly" but preventing the copyright holders (MR and the author) from selling you the five copies and recieving just payment for their work.
ANDY please correct me if I am wrong, but MR or Kalmbach will be DELIGHTED to sell us ANY article from your archives and gives a discount for multiple copies? Right?

[dknelson]

I won't and can't speak for Kalmbach's policies in this regard but Douginut summarizes things pretty correctly. Note that Kalmbach gives specific authorization to copy plans on the plans - for your OWN modeling use. But note also they say nothing about articles.
The thing is there is a whole world of copyright law and restriction and then there is the whole world of what really goes on. All those Dilbert cartoons taped to people's walls are violations; all those Snoopy pictures the kids make at school are probably also violations. And the local public libraries all have copier machines near the stacks -- with a copyright notice warning prominently attached!
If you give a copy to a friend will you be sued? Almost unquestionably not. Would you lose the case if you were sued? Sure. If you gave (or worse yet, sold for cost) a copy to 100 friends would you be sued? Hmmm -- maybe. And you'd lose.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

The intent of my thread was to have Kalmbach reply.

[douginut]

Now that you mention it upon re-reading your post that is pretty obvious.
No offense meant really.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, I'm wondering if they are ducking the issue. If so I'll keep re posting a new thread until I irritate them.

No offense taken, I wasn't irritated at you, but Kalmbach for not answering.

[dknelson]

If they (kalmbach) feel obligated to reply then they will probably feel obligated to give the most restrictive, most legally correct response.
Which is, don't copy. Sometimes if you don;t want to know the answer, you don't ask the question!
Dave nelson