>Note my words "perhaps".....
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>There is fair use, no question...and trust me, I shudder to think of the world where someone can't walk down the street and safely whistle a Beatles tune (wait...I hate Beatles music...the whistler should be clubbed....bad example)....but even certain specialized books have licensing agreements.
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>Keep in mind something - the more "passing around", the more potential for abuse
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>I'm not chastising Mike (well, not on this one, anyway), but the truth is that most books have enough spoiler/teaser info available online to entice people to buy.
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>For the book I wrote and the one I contributed to, I'd object to what Mike is describing, and I know for a fact that one of the publishers I worked with would not support this either - most publishers run plenty of programs (free individual chapters, sample sections, etc.). . Trust me (as I'm sure you know) a published book represents a considerable investment of time and $$$.
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>Appreciate your input, but it does not vitiate my original point.

I appreciate your view - especially given that it is coming from the experience of being an author who has invested a lot of time and energy into writing. Still, I believe it is not illegal and I explained why in my previous post. It is no different than if he took it to a used book store and traded it and then it passed back and forth through many readers that way or if he just passed it on to one person and that person passed it on, etc. I think the short time period he had in mind and the signing was a good one. It might actually 'market' the book and bring her skills as an author to the attention of folks who might not otherwise consider her books. It also is good for the development community. It's also not any different than a free book being given out at a conference and then the recipient could choose to pass it on as well.

Can you show me in writing where it states that it is illegal and doesn't fall into the category of the copyright act that covers the limits to "first sale?" I'm sure if it falls into another category (which is possible and I'm just not knowledgeable of it), any publisher would know.