Re-selling Books and Copyright Laws

Philippines
March 7, 2012 5:40am CST
Friends... Please tell me if i would be violating anything. I buy and sell books, particularly music sheets. I would mark up the cost a bit to defray for the shipping costs and other expenses. Now, i have read somewhere that i, as the buyer, has the right to lend, re-sell, donate or even burn the book for all i care and i would not violate anything. But but but i am not allowed to reproduce a copy of that book. I am tagging them as my collections and i would be more than willing to sell them to someone who would want to have them. Tell me, am i violating any law? Can i invoke my rights of exhaustion of first rights in here???
2 people like this
2 responses
7 Mar 12
Explain what you mean by "tagging them as my collections". You have the right to resell them but not to reproduce (i.e. copy) them. If you're not copying them but are selling the originals with something that says "Grace's Music Shop" added on the front, with the content the same, then there's no problem. If you're taking the covers off and replacing them with your own, there's probably an issue. If you can explain what changes you make, it'll be easier to tell.
• Philippines
7 Mar 12
Wow! Am i glad you stopped by! What i meant about "tagging them as my collection" is that i just keep them as if they are mine... well, actually they really are mine, i just like keeping choral sheets as a hobby. I wouldnt write anything on the score, i will keep them as if new. I wont be replacing its cover. It will be as "new." No changes done... So, would this mean that i am clean???
1 person likes this
7 Mar 12
In other words you wonder if it's different because you're an individual and not selling them in a shop? No difference at all. Assuming you are selling them "as is" - with no changes or alterations - then there's no problem with copyrights. You might run into trouble with standard pricing laws if there are any of those where you are, though I think since you're effectively selling them "second hand" even though you bought them at cost (I assume), you are freed from those. You'd have to check. As far as copyrights go, as long as you're selling the originals, you're fine. If you photocopied them and sold the copies, there'd be trouble.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Mar 12
if you're just reselling the book as bought,you're fine.if you reprint it/copy it and sell it without permission,then you'll be in trouble.