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You could do it a bit more illegally and scan and send the required pages of workshop manual.
Be VERY careful about Copyright.
Copyright is automatically on any work of art, be it literary, design, painting, drawing, photography, etc. It doesn't need to be applied for and there does not need to be any notice or warning to the effect.
All books, magazines, photographs, drawings, pieces of music, etc, etc are protected under the Australian Copyright Act.
Copyright protection lasts for
70 years The owner of the Copyright is not always, but is usually, the actual "author" of the piece. This work is the bread and butter living of many people. It is called Intellectual Property and copying it, especially for any financial gain, is STEALING, in exactly the same way that taking any merchandise from a shop without paying for it is stealing.
I would take a very dim view of anyone copying any of The Mini Experience, or any of the products we produce (DVDs, calendars, etc) without seeking my permission first. Quite a few people do request such permission to copy feature articles to display with their Mini, or copy photos to help sell their featured Mini, and these requests have always been granted, provided acknowledgment is made to The Mini Experience as the source of the article/photo. However, don't assume that means anyone can do the same - always ask first.
There are provisions under the Copyright Act, for "Fair Dealing" in reproducing material for personal research and study, editorial use and archival protection. For example, we regularly reproduce old magazine covers, pages from The BMC Rosette and even sometimes photos from various magazines or websites. The source is always acknowledged and their use is permitted for editorial comment, criticism or review under the Act.
The lending of material, such as a magazine or a book, is not a breach of Copyright (although it is disappointing from a business point of view to think that people would borrow magazines from other people to read rather than buy their own, but is understandable). However, the copying of such material, as on a CD, photocopy, for distribution, etc is a breach of Copyright. The selling of that copied information even more so.
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Or for $5 I'll send you a CD full of Mini stuff including a couple of Manuals
As the above - be VERY careful about this.
In reality, we all know this goes on, and frankly there is nothing we can do about it - other than to educate people that this is in fact illegal!.
Admittedly, it may be the only way that material from a book or other publication no longer available can be shared. However, advertising the fact that you are providing illegal copies of material is fraught with danger and leaves you wide open for prosecution.
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Has anyone thought of running a Mini Library where members can borrow
books and magazine’s about mini's from other members at a small fee including postage and they have within a month for it to be returned..
Again lending this material to people is not a breach of the Copyright Act, and is up to individuals concerned about safety of the material on loan. I'm sure we have all loaned books to people, and I'm sure we have all had at least one that was never returned.
However, to charge even a "small fee" for doing so no longer makes it a loan - it then becomes a hire which introduces a raft of other considerations. For example, as a one-off to provide some protection (say if the hire fee is returned on the safe return of the book) that may be acceptable. Repeated transactions may suggest it is being done as a business. Then you have to consider warranty, service costs, GST, taxation.
Please consider all of the above before copying any work and/or offering it to other people.
Have a nice day.
Cheers,
Watto.
