Legal Question in Technology Law in New York

Fair Use of book covers I will buy and give to students

I am starting an on-the-web Art Course now up on WEB under construction. When students pay to take the course, I will GIVE them a series of text books and art supplies and a digital camera. I will buy the books etc. and give them to students. I want to make digital copies of the covers I buy and post them on MY web site along with descriptions of the books from the publisher's web sites. They lose NO sales, sice I buy the books. I am an educational for profit WEB business. Can I do it?


Asked on 10/02/01, 6:43 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Harold M. Weiner Coles & Weiner, P.C.

Re: Fair Use of book covers I will buy and give to students

This is a far more web marketing issue than it is copyright or IP. Be practical. Your goal is to get the books of your choice into the hands of your students, free. Why not make yourself some more money while doing this and making lots of friends in publishing? Sure , you could go and try to get permission first from the publishers. They probably would gladly give it to you unless they were really stupid. It is good for them and does not threaten copyright. But I have a MUCH better solution. Do NOT buy the books outright to give to the students. Since you have built in a dollar amount, obviously, in your tuition, approach both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com's online operations about becoming a cooperating dealer. They usually have the photo images already on line, saving you the trouble of shooting them. All you have to do then is cut and paste, and establish a fund at either Amazon or B&N on line ( or both, or other used places such as Powells.com) to make your students happy, them happy and reap the benefits of being a co-dealer with Amazon or B&N. Hey, LawGuru does it.... why not you? Check out Legal Book Store on its website.

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Answered on 11/08/01, 6:02 am


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