Theos-Talk Archives (December 2010 Message tt00250)

That's what you really need to know.  In what context was the publishing house created and orchestrated to operate within (and for) the Society, and how or has its fundamental standards been adapted/changed.  

You'll only be able to derive these answers via the original articles/by-laws/standards.



--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "thalprin" <thalprin@...> wrote:
>
> Actually, as a Society with a publishing house and a/its stable of writers mainly being foundational members I'd check your Society' original articles, pertaining to early materials, if I were you.
> 
> Given that lodges have self autonomy it may well be that these copyrights, for early/foundational materials, are owned by (or excepted for,) the Society, dunno.  
> 
> Terrie
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@> wrote:
> >
> > The $64,000 Question
> > 
> > I have purchased a book and I need an electronic copy to be loaded to my
> > computer so that I can read it during my travel/vacation and also I may need
> > it for reference when I write emails. For love or money, no electronic copy
> > is available from the publisher/copyright holder. What am I supposed to do?
> > Just put up with the situation and do nothing?
> > 
> > Let me take another scenario. I find this very expensive book which costs
> > $95 plus shipping (this is not made up, The Judge Case book published in
> > Canada costs this much) and I am in a third world country where this is out
> > of reach to most theosophists and only super rich ones can afford it.
> > 
> > Everyone will argue that we cannot violate copyright laws (which are
> > designed from a money making point of view and not with a view to
> > distribution information). On the other hand, every theosophist knows that
> > for every law, there are exceptions, even though exceptions come with
> > certain potential costs and risks.
> > 
> > Today, very fast scanners are cheap. If you Google, you will find methods
> > how with a digital camera, a camera stand and a $3.99 desk lamp and free
> > software you can scan a book and convert it to a pdf file. If you are
> > desperate, you may go ahead and get a pdf file made and be prepared to pay
> > the â??Karmicâ?? and civil price.
> > 
> > In this situation, would it not be nice for theosophical publishers to come
> > forward and make pdf copies available for free to download from Internet.
> > This is very cost effective and we can follow the Shareware model in the
> > computer program industry to support the costs of producing the books.
> > 
> > Will 2011 be the year that electronic publishing of theosophical materials
> > is going to take off? It is entirely in the hands of elected leaders of
> > theosophical organizations as well as authors of books. If status quo is
> > maintained, you will see declining sales of hard copy publications and which
> > will eventually make traditional theosophical publishing shut down for good.
> > 
> > Let us all pray so that we will all be beneficiaries of electronic copies of
> > publications in 2011.
> > 
> > MKR
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>