LOTR text online?

Quoth "Ryan Stewart" <zzanNOtozz.TakeThisOut@gSPAMo.com> in article
<yICdncM7c4_6eZfdU-KYlg.TakeThisOut@texas.net>:
> I may just be asking for a flame-fest here, but does anyone know if
> it's possible/legal to download a full text of the LOTR trilogy
> anywhere.

Frustratingly, the Tolkien Estate has chosen not to release an
electronic edition of the books. That's annoying for scholars, but
until they do (or until copyright runs out many years from now) we're
pretty much stuck, legally at least. Those who want to discard
current copyright law before there's any replacement available tend to
ignore such issues, but most of us here are resigned to respecting the
Estate's decision. (Feel free to lobby them to change their minds,
though!)
Steuard Jensen
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

In alt.fan.tolkien Ryan Stewart <zzanNOtozz DeleteThis @gspamo.com> wrote:
> I may just be asking for a flame-fest here, but does anyone know if it's
> possible/legal to download a full text of the LOTR trilogy anywhere. I
> already own the books, but it would be nice to have a quickly searchable
> version.

No legal downloads. If you want an illegal* version you can use any P2P
software like DC++ or do a google seach.

* the illegality of downloading it depends on where you live



--
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

Steuard Jensen wrote:
>

<snip>

> Frustratingly, the Tolkien Estate has chosen not to release an
> electronic edition of the books. That's annoying for scholars, but
> until they do (or until copyright runs out many years from now) we're
> pretty much stuck, legally at least.

Depending on the formulation of the copyright laws in your country it
may or may not be legal to produce yourself a copy of your own book
by typing or scanning or whatever (it may even depend on the method,
af far as I know).

If someone illegally put up a copy on the internet, I would be able
to browse it legally according to Danish law as long as I don't make
a permanent copy on my own computer.

--
Troels Forchhammer
Valid mail is t.forch(a)mail.dk

Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

Steuard Jensen wrote:
> Quoth "Ryan Stewart" <zzanNOtozz.DeleteThis@gSPAMo.com> in article
> <yICdncM7c4_6eZfdU-KYlg.DeleteThis@texas.net>:
>> I may just be asking for a flame-fest here, but does anyone know if
>> it's possible/legal to download a full text of the LOTR trilogy
>> anywhere.
>
> Frustratingly, the Tolkien Estate has chosen not to release an
> electronic edition of the books. That's annoying for scholars, but
> until they do (or until copyright runs out many years from now)

I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that to
happen.

Berislav
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

In article <buf35b$ch3$1@ls219.htnet.hr>,
"Berislav Lopac" <berislav.lopac.l DeleteThis @duoplus.hr> wrote:

> Steuard Jensen wrote:
> > Quoth "Ryan Stewart" <zzanNOtozz DeleteThis @gSPAMo.com> in article
> > <yICdncM7c4_6eZfdU-KYlg DeleteThis @texas.net>:
> >> I may just be asking for a flame-fest here, but does anyone know if
> >> it's possible/legal to download a full text of the LOTR trilogy
> >> anywhere.
> >
> > Frustratingly, the Tolkien Estate has chosen not to release an
> > electronic edition of the books. That's annoying for scholars, but
> > until they do (or until copyright runs out many years from now)
>
> I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that to
> happen.

Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.

--
Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
|
|"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
| inconvenience me with questions?"
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

> > I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that to
> > happen.
>
> Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.

disney has already gotten congress to extend copyrights
no reason to believe they wont continue to bribe congress
as long as they have enough money
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

Orac wrote:
>
....
> Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.

Remember U.S copyright law has been quite fluid for the past
30 years. The big copyright holders have obtained several
consecutive extensions to copyright law. It would be legal,
and is conceivable, for Congress to reverse the existing
law and change the rules for older works.

--
Glenn Holliday holliday DeleteThis @acm.org
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

"cassandras morgan mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges"
<mair_fheal DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mair_fheal-1801041529270001@c137.ppp.tsoft.com...
> > > I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that
to
> > > happen.
> >
> > Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> > 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.
>
> disney has already gotten congress to extend copyrights
On material they took out of the public domain. What was the original
copyright length in the constitution.
Wasn't it only fifeteen years or so?
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

In article <0dudnbSxSpO5h5bdRVn-tw DeleteThis @giganews.com>, "Joe"
<jlaveccNO DeleteThis @SPAMameritech.net> wrote:

> "cassandras morgan mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges"
> <mair_fheal DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:mair_fheal-1801041529270001@c137.ppp.tsoft.com...
> > > > I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that
> to
> > > > happen.
> > >
> > > Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> > > 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.
> >
> > disney has already gotten congress to extend copyrights
> On material they took out of the public domain. What was the original
> copyright length in the constitution.
> Wasn't it only fifeteen years or so?

actually the constution doesnt declare anything about actual copurights
what does is give congress the power to create copyrights for a limited time

congress power to create copyrights is constitutional
the actual copyright law is statutory
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

"Stan Brown" <the_stan_brown RemoveThis @fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a74e84ef097a1d598bc67@news.odyssey.net...
> It seems "Joe" wrote in rec.arts.books.tolkien in article
> <0dudnbSxSpO5h5bdRVn-tw RemoveThis @giganews.com>:
> >What was the original
> >copyright length in the constitution.
> >Wasn't it only fifeteen years or so?
>
> Congress was granted power to create patents and copyrights to
> last "a limited time".
>
>
I stand corrected. The first law concerning copyright was passed in 1790 and
gave the author rights for fourteen years with an extension of another
fourteen years if the author was still alive. And is a far cry from up to 95
years for some works granted by the "Bono" act. Which IMHO is excessive.
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

"Steuard Jensen" <sbjensen.RemoveThis@midway.uchicago.edu> wrote in message
news:1DDOb.5$Y4.2880@news.uchicago.edu...
> Quoth "Ryan Stewart" <zzanNOtozz.RemoveThis@gSPAMo.com> in article
> <yICdncM7c4_6eZfdU-KYlg.RemoveThis@texas.net>:
> > I may just be asking for a flame-fest here, but does anyone know if
> > it's possible/legal to download a full text of the LOTR trilogy
> > anywhere.
>
> Frustratingly, the Tolkien Estate has chosen not to release an
> electronic edition of the books. That's annoying for scholars, but
> until they do (or until copyright runs out many years from now) we're
> pretty much stuck, legally at least. Those who want to discard
> current copyright law before there's any replacement available tend to
> ignore such issues, but most of us here are resigned to respecting the
> Estate's decision. (Feel free to lobby them to change their minds,
> though!)

A friend of mine once sent me an electronic version of
Hobbit+LOTR+appendixes. As I already own more than one
copy of the books, I saw nothing morally wrong in using it for
search purposes... But as always YMMV...

Aris Katsaris
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

In article <400B4F66.FF7BC627.DeleteThis@acm.org>,
Glenn Holliday <holliday.DeleteThis@acm.org> wrote:

> Orac wrote:
> >
> ...
> > Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> > 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.
>
> Remember U.S copyright law has been quite fluid for the past
> 30 years. The big copyright holders have obtained several
> consecutive extensions to copyright law. It would be legal,
> and is conceivable, for Congress to reverse the existing
> law and change the rules for older works.

It's certainly possible, but it would take a lot of lobbying effort and
use of political capital. There is a bit of a backlash now. The present
copyright lasting up to 95 years is considered by many lawmakers to be
excessive.

--
Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
|
|"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
| inconvenience me with questions?"
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online? 

In article <orac-2743BD.18050518012004 RemoveThis @news4-ge1.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>, Orac
wrote:
>> I'm pretty sure it will never run out. Disney would never allow that to
>> happen.
>
> Disney doesn't have a choice. For works originally published between
> 1923-1963, the maximum a copyright can last is 95 years.

And before Disney got the law changed to 95 years, you could have said the
same thing with a smaller number. And when 95 years becomes a problem for
them, what makes you think they won't get the copyright term extended again?

--
--Tim Smith
 >> Stay informed about: LOTR text online?