One thing to remember, if the DVD are used as "premiums" such as is done with PBS/NPR membership drives, then they are legally regarded as being "sold" and the "donation" to PBS/NPR, etc., is no longer a "donation," and thus no longer tax deductible. Thus the "fine print" concerning the "sale" of Project Gutenberg eBooks would legally apply. However: When our DVDs are truly given away free of charge, as has been done by various people at public libraries, the Internet Archive, etc., that is just fine, also as per the "fine print." I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, just what I remember from our lawyers and what our own local PBS/NPR stations' disclaimers. Michael On Wed, 26 Jan 2005, James Linden wrote:
I say "Let 'em at 'em!" (That's Texas speak for "yes"). They aren't making any money off them per se, so I don't see a conflict of interest, etc.
But heck, that's just my $0.02 CAD!
-- James jlinden@projectgutenberg.ca
PS: Aaron, email your snail mail addy, I have a stack of PG CDs to send you.
Aaron Cannon wrote:
I received this message a few days ago. I sent it to Greg for his opinion, but either my messages aren't getting through, or he's been busy, as I haven't received a response.
Anyway, I thought I'd forward it to the list for discussion. Personally I don't see that there would be a problem, as long as the DVDs are given as gifts, and not sold. Nevertheless, what do the rest of you think?
"Hi Project Gutenberg folks,
First of all, thanks for all the wonderful work you do. I appreciate it so much.
I had a question about using Project Gutenberg's CDs or DVDs as "free" gifts in a membership drive for an advocacy group. I'm doing some work for Public Knowledge (a DC based advocacy group that lobbies for the public interest in intellectual property issues-- I'm sure you've crossed paths with them), and I'm helping them improve their online outreach and fundraising.
One of the things we'd like to do is let people show their support by becoming members. We'd like to offer people who donate gifts such as Public Knowledge t-shirts, or books like Lessig's "Free Culture", and we'd like for some of these items to be a celebration of Creative Commons licenses and the public domain. Along those lines, we're interested in giving members Project Gutenberg DVDs.
Would that be possible? Are there any rights issues? And what would be the best way to get a hundred or so copies that we could send out? If there's a suggested donation when copies of the CD are made, what kind of donation would you consider to be fair?
Thanks for you time, and I look forward to hearing from you,
-Holmes Wilson"
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