The problem is contract only binds the contracting parties, whereas copyright binds everyone.
There is no contract between you and your publisher that would prevent me from buying a book, scanning, and redistributing it. That would require a chain of contracts between the publisher and the distributor and the distributor and the retail purchaser. But even that doesn't help. You may sign a contract with the local Borders when you buy a book. But when you give it to me as a birthday present, I am not bound by your agreement.
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Date: 2009-07-08 01:56 pm (UTC)There is no contract between you and your publisher that would prevent me from buying a book, scanning, and redistributing it. That would require a chain of contracts between the publisher and the distributor and the distributor and the retail purchaser. But even that doesn't help. You may sign a contract with the local Borders when you buy a book. But when you give it to me as a birthday present, I am not bound by your agreement.