Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 21:42:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Art Medlar
To: <a group of people>
Subject: [IRR] Adobe forbids reading aloud


Glassbook [1] is Adobe's entry into the e-book sweepstakes.
Downloading it, one finds a collection of free (beer) as well as
non-free books available. Each book comes with a set of "permissions"
outlining what may and may not be done with the book. These may be
examined using the Glassbook's Info button.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is available [2]. Copyright expired
who-all-knows how long ago. The etext was originally made freely
(speech) available by Michael Hart at Project Gutenberg. It was
reformatted for the Glassbook reader by VolumeOne (probably not the
same organization as is at www.volumeone.com, but it's hard to tell).

A set of restrictions was attached to the reformatted edition of the
book.  One may not copy, print, lend, or give the book away. But best
of all, one is forbidden from reading the book aloud.

A screen shot is here, containing both the standard copyright page
(which explicitly acknowledges the debt to Project Gutenberg) as well
as the "permissions" pop-up information:

  http://www.pigdogs.org/art/adobe.jpg


Adobe replies to queries about the situation like this:

  "Unfortunately, we do not have enough information to correctly
   troubleshoot the issue. Please provide us with an exact copy of any
   errors that you are receiving so that we can properly assist you."


I'm not familiar enough with the DMCA to tell if one of the standard
tasks of parenthood is now a felony.

--art


[1] http://www.glassbook.com/
[2] http://bookstore.glassbook.com/store/product.asp?sku=09767748941

• anti-dmca.org
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Project Gutenberg
• Richard Stallman explains it all for you
• Jessica Litman explains it all for you
• Lawrence Lessig explains it all for you