I was just thinking about this over my morning coffee today: would there be interest from my fellow modelers if I were to scan in instructions for the kits I have (built or not) and put them up on a website in PDF format for people to download if they’ve lost a set, need a model fix while at work, etc?
I’d also be willing to host other people’s scans, sort of a compilation of instructions as it were. Copyright shouldn’t be an issue, since we’re not selling them. Thoughts?
That sounds like a good idea.
Sounds like a plan!! I see requests for them now & then. I’ve also had the misfortune of “misplaced” instructions.[censored][#oops]
Eddie
A great idea, I think it would be better as a sticky on this site though.
As many times as I scan instructions for people this seems like a great idea - an instruction archive.
I also think it would be a good idea, but should be open to all forums not just aircraft
I think this idea has been brought up before and then died because of copyright issues. You may want to consult a legal expert before continuing. I do like the idea if it is in fact legal though.
Of course, that was my plan (just didn’t want to post in a dozen different forums). [:D]
I don’t see anything wrong with it, but I have no idea how the powers that be will think of it. It’s a great idea, so I’m for it. Perhaps a Sticky in each forum?
That’d be awesome. I’m working on developing the site right now, and I’ll try to scan some in this evening and see if they come out okay (can’t imagine they wouldn’t). I’ll probably format each page so that it can be printed on a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. Maybe in the future I’ll have multiple formats available, like for our friends abroad who are using A4 or some other format. [:D]
As OKP said earlier you may want to seek legal advice about copyright infringement issue’s as the penalties per copy can be quite expensive should you find yourself in legal troubles.
this is an incredible idea!!!
I’m no expert on this but, I could see a problem IF he were to charge for copies! I do feel this is a good idea & do agree with looking into copyright infringements anyways.[2c]
I wish someone would’ve done this when I was 11yrs. old & was given a 1:96 scale ship model of the Cutty Sark with NO instructions!! (Thank God for Libraries with books on that ship!!!- at least I had photos to work from[:D]
Eddie
I think this is a great idea. I am not sure why it hasn’t been done before. I would gladly volunteer some of my services to get this up and going. Perhaps someone with a legal background can help us with all the copyright stuff. By the way let me mention that it miht be better to host the instructions as pictures instead of pdf’s since some users will possibly be on dial up. plus with apicture such as a gif for black and white instructions, a viewer is no problem.
No one was getting charged anything for Napster either. Also refer to the ongoing debate over kit manufacturers being charged royalties buy designers. Always be careful applying ‘common sense’ or ‘good intentions’ to commercial law, these things rarely factor into legal decisions. And considering we are on FSM’s turf here we probably ought to get a definitive opinion from Kalmbach’s legal department before proceeding. I may be wrong, but in this case seeking forgiveness instead of permission could be expensive.
how about this then? if people were merely populate a list of those instructions that they own …of course there is no law in telling people what you got …what goes on between two indaviduals there after is thier business and of course the copy writers if they were to prove that a copy of the plans were exchanged physicaly or electronically …oooopppssss I hope I dont have the thought police after me.
This should clear it up for all.
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a manner that violates one of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it.
Exclusive Rights Portion:
Types of exclusive rights
Intellectual Property
There are multiple types of intellectual property, the most common being a copyright, or the exclusive right to produce copies of a work. In some cases an intellectual property right may be automatically assumed, but in others it must first be granted.
Unlike a property right, an intellectual property right applies to all copies of the particular subject it covers, irregardless of whether the respective intellectual property holder actually owns them all. Thus, if someone owns a copy of a particular copyrighted work, but does not hold the copyright to it, he is even prohibited from making copies of his own copy; the right to make any copies is exclusively that of the copyright holder.
So I hope this helps and keeps people out of trouble.
The text is from a legal encyclopedia and not my opinion.
You can try what ever you want but I can pretty much guarantee that any attempt to start it here will result in the PTB shutting you down in about half a heartbeat. Really; we aren’t trying to be difficult because we don’t like you or think it’s a crappy idea, it’s just that we are trying to keep you out of legal trouble and having you get publicly stepped on by FSM.
I’m pretty sure it would infringe copyright if the instructions were scanned without permission. Of course, FSM could request permission from the copyright holders - Revell, Tamiya, etc. Who knows? They might grant it because FSM does provide a great showcase for their products.
I don’t think anyone buys a kit for the instruction sheet, so granting permission would not cost the manufacturers any sales (as was the case with Napster, for instance). I might be good PR - I would probably have bought a few models that tempetd me if I could have seen the instruction sheet first.
I’m sure there must be a gaping hole in this scheme - it’s just too straightforward. Plus, FSM or someone else would have to pay their attorneys to review the agreements and would have to pay for the bandwidth to provide the e-instructions.
Now that I think of it, why don’t the kit manufacturers provide scanned instruction sheets on their websites? It would seem to be a reasonable service for those of us who buy dozens of their kits and sometimes misplace an instruction sheet.
AS for as I know there is no copy right infringe for making copys. You can go to any model rockety forums and other and get rocket plans with no end. It’s like a archive. I make copys and share them. I don’t now how many time i’ve spelled coffee on or missed placed my instructions. But I thank it’s a good idea. You can’t buy a kit with out the instruction any way. I Like how Eduard PE has there site if you need instruction. It would be cool to have some of a archive.
But thats my input.