The Expanded Universe discussion

Hello, all.

Your friendly neighborhood Grand Moff here to address a concern that has made its way to me. I got this message:

Just wondering what the official stance of the group is in regards to piracy of the Star Wars books? Not the discussion of the merits of either sides, but if it is allowed for someone to come onsite and say "I have books, email me and I'll send them to you."

I'm going to split this question into two parts. The first thing being the difference between lending/borrowing and piracy.

Friends lend and borrow books all the time. I've done it, and I'm willing to bet almost all of us have. From a public/school library if not from another person. But the ownership of that book doesn't change. One person owns it, and (I would think) expects it returned at some point. Piracy is unauthorized/illegal transfer of goods--books, in this case.

So as it applies to the group: I can't stop you from lending or borrowing books, and I wouldn't want to if I could. That's how authors like me get noticed. Word of mouth. That I-borrowed-this-and-found-it-cheap-at-the-bookstore day, and you plunk down 5.99 for my paperback. Lending is good.

Now onto what piracy means for the group. This isn't good, folks. If you are trying to sell someone your old collection of books, fine. But if copyrighted material (or links to it) show up, the content will be removed and the person who posted it will be banned. Here's a good rule of thumb: if the publisher is charging money for it, you need to pay for ownership. Clear enough?

**Addendum: This rule applies in reverse, as well. If you show up and ask for people to send you books irrespective of copyright, the same consequences will apply.