Copying Books
QUESTION 16: COPYING TEXTBOOKS
My son asked me for $7 for his High School. When I
asked why, he said the school made full copies of three
textbooks for one of his courses. Was the school right
in copying those books?
RABBI BELSKY'S ANSWER
No. The Yeshiva shouldn't be doing it. Rabbi
Moshe Feinstien zt"l said that whenever a person
makes copies from a book without paying, he is
stealing from the publisher. The school is supposed
to buy the books for the students. The book is being
sold by a publisher, and copying it is taking away
their profit. Reb Moshe was very firm about this.
QUESTION
If the Yeshiva was wrong, but doesn't want to throw
the copies out that they already made, is my son
allowed to use them?
RABBI BELSKY
He should see if he can buy another copy of the book.
QUESTION
What if I can't buy other copies in time for my son
to use them in school? Let's say it takes two weeks
to order our own copies?
RABBI BELSKY
Temporarily you could use perhaps just a page.
He could copy the page he needs.
QUESTION
The assignment is to actually go through all three
of the books and come up with certain ideas. It's
not just a few pages.
RABBI BELSKY
Three full books?
QUESTION
Yes. But what if he might not be able to them in
the next two weeks, which is when the assignment is
due, and he really has to read the material?
RABBI BELSKY
Is it a secular book?
QUESTION
Economics books.
RABBI BELSKY
Maybe he can take them out of the library.
QUESTION
How would you characterize the whole situation?
RABBI BELSKY
It shouldn't be done. Taking something that is
being marketed and making copies? It shouldn't
be done.
QUESTION 17: BUYING A BOOK THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN COPIED
I was told that a certain edition of the Talmud had
photocopied the Soncino edition, and was guilty of
copyright infringement. I have no idea as to the
validity of those claims. Should I investigate these
claims before buying this other version (it is less
expensive), and if the claims turn out to have some
basis, should I refrain from buying this less
expensive version?
RABBI BELSKY
If there is an announcement signed by legitimate
authoritative Rabbonim (Rabbis) that states that you're
not allowed to use it, then you're not allowed to use
it. But you're not obligated to make an investigation
on your own, just because a rumor is circulating that
something is wrong. It's up to the offended party to
make the Jewish public aware. And if he doesn't make
the public aware -- is the public defendant supposed
to investigate every little thing?
QUESTION
Let's say I happened to do a bit of investigation and
found out that the rumor has some basis. Should I refrain
from buying the less expensive version?
RABBI BELSKY
Yes.
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 18: SHOULD YOU BELIEVE A STREET
VENDOR WHO CLAIM'S HE'S SELLING STOLEN GOODS?
My son asked me for $7 for his High School. When I
asked why, he said the school made full copies of three
textbooks for one of his courses. Was the school right
in copying those books?
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 17: BUYING A BOOK THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN COPIED
Once I passed a table where a person was selling sweaters
for $3 a piece. I asked him how they could be so cheap,
and he said that they were stolen, how else could he
get them so cheap? How do I know if he's telling the
truth, or if he's lying just to make them seem like a
'better buy'? If he may be telling the truth, or if
I don't know if he's telling the truth, am I prohibited
from buying the sweaters? Should I ask beforehand how a
person got his goods if he's selling them at such low
prices, and how much credibility should I give to his answer?
NEXT WEEEK'S QUESTION 19: ABOUT JAYWALKING
Is it permissible to jaywalk and to walk against a red
light even though it is technically illegal?
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