Hold on a sec!
bob said, to jim-
> I'm not going to argue this any further with you, though.
truth be told, you've haven't provided any argumentation anyway.
you ignored jim's main point, to argue some legalistic crap which
jim knows quite well and was never in dispute.
indeed, it is precisely the troubling fact that material which _is_
"in the public domain" in a _legal_ sense, but is only _available_
for sale, because d.p. can't get it out the door, that's the point...
There is a difference between a text being copyright free and in the
public domain..
One can put a copyright and have it be still in the public domain.
Personally, as I see it PG text are more or less copyright free and
in the public domain.
I can use the PG text as I wish as long aas I give them credit. Which I would do.
Yet, there is actually no practical way of stopping me from taking a PG text
removing all hints to it. Reformatting it and publishing it( even in paper form)
under copyright and thereby protecting my WORK.
Naturally, I would not do this, but others due.
Even if someone puts a text up for sale and copyrights it from PG or DP,
there is NOTHING THEY could due against PG or DP from publishing
their own version! You see, PG/DP is working with the rights of the law
as they can prove where their material is coming from an it was obtained
legally and they had not infringed on the copyright.
As an example NOBODY in the world is going to get a copyright on
Shakespeares works, so that somebody else can not produce Shakepeares
works on their own!!!
So once the original copyright expires that text is a free for all. Nobody,
can get a copyright that will stop anybody else from publishing that text.
What they can get is protection for their wok and only their work/book/publication.
To come back to the point of prereleasing texts. The best way of catching someone
is by using texts that are NOT error-free, Since that error just might propagate.
One has then a indisputable MARK to identify your work.
regards
Keith.