I don't own a copy of the Pierce Piano Atlas, and neither do most local libraries. If they do, it's a referernce copy that cannot be borrowed. I want to make a photocopy of two pages (Knabe 197483 and Sohmer 69823). My first question is, can anyone here do a tremendous favor and scan these two pages to my email, or if that's not possible, tell me what page(s) or chapter(s) it appears in the atlas -- one library will download for free several pages or a chapter, as long as one is specific about the material he is looking for. Thank you for any help or advice.

Have you posted this on the Piano Technician page of this forum? Most techs use their Pierce Piano Atlas quite often. Maybe they will help you.

The Knabe information is on page 194 and the Sohmer information is on page 321 of the tenth edition of the Pierce Piano Atlas.

Tuesdays are my day off, when I get to the store tomorrow I will be sure to send you over the scanned pages.

Jonathan, that is very kind of you, and it saves me a big trip to an out-of-area library. Is there anything I can do in return? A piano recital CD? Symphony CD? Just let me know. Thank you, David

David,
It's no problem at all.. Believe me I'm in my atlas almost every day. If your CD's are of you playing I would love to hear them but I am not asking for you to send me one.

Possibly post it on youtube or something. I am sending over the two pages as I wright. Let me know if you have any problems receiving them.

Certainly, you may do what you want, but this is a clear copyright violation and Mr. Ashley DOES take such things seriously...

I don't know about the library thing...maybe they have permission to copy and send/download...

My understanding is if I am sharing info from the book I purchased then it is not an issue. If I stand to make money from it then it would be a problem.

I don't know though, I am no lawyer.

Sharing the info isn't a problem. The problem comes when you copy portions share that. The info the OP wants is easily provided in a short e-mail, with no questionable legalities. There no need to send an entire page.

I'm not trying to be 'difficult' or nit-picky here, but over on the PTG list, we HAVE had e-letters from Mr. Ashley's lawyer...

The book is $37.57; you wouldn't need to take out a second mortgage. If you donated it to the library afterward, you could even write it off.

Or, it could be a good excuse to visit a local piano dealer, who might let you glance at the information you need AND check out what's on the floor. They might be glad to have some traffic in the shop.

I agree copies should not be made. However here are the ages, Knabe 1984
Sohmer 1928. OK????

Wow, I didn't know this was going to turn into a cause celebre. Maybe some Pepto Bismol would help with the constipation. At any rate, the library I contacted said, in their words, 'no problem, just come over and photocopy any pages you want; we're ordering a later edition, so you could even wait for that one.' The library didn't seem to have any issues, and it's not like I was asking for the whole book, just a page or two. Thank you, Jonathan, and it's good to know someone who doesn't have such a jaded view. I would be happy to do anyone else on this board a favor. I'm rather new to Piano World, so I guess I'm not prepared for this sort of thing. I guess it's time to bow out. David

Hi dglo -

I know the last post was on 4/23, but I can clear up the copyright question raised above. I worked in that specific legal field for many years.

Your library is incorrect, and they are violating copyright law by allowing photocopies of the pages. Looking through the book, passing along information verbally is not a violation. Photocopying definitely is.

You can simply look inside the book on page 2, "No part of the Pierce Piano Atlas may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitting in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission of the publisher." The copyright notice is clearly printed on the same page.

This isn't a jaded view - its Copyright 101. Sorry, Jonathan, we know you only meant well.

I am curious as to how it is legal to copy a CD and give that to a friend but not a page in a book.

I'm not trying to argue what you stated, I just don't understand what the difference is and why..

It is not legal to copy a copyrighted CD and give that to a friend, either.

Or, you could go the Library of Congress, rip the pages out of the book and stuff them in your clothes. It's been done before without consequence...

Not quite. You have use your socks.

BDB is absolutely correct. Even though it may be common practice to make a copy of a CD for a friend, that doesn't make it legal.

Copyright law is very straight forward. Take just a few minutes and google the term, do a little reading to get a clear understanding.

DGLO, you could perhaps purchase a used copy of the book from Amazon at a lower rate. The info you are looking for wouldn't change at all of course, assuming the edition postdated the pianos DOB.
Regards
Mike

WHAT? Wow... I can't believe you think that that's legal to do.