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Can you photocopy BSA merit badge books?
I just moved, and I switched BSA troops. One thing that my new troop does that shocks me is: When a Scout demonstrates an interest in a merit badge, one of the adult leaders PHOTOCOPIES the merit badge book, and gives the photocopied merit badge book to the Scout to work with.
Is this legal?!? Is this an invasion of Intellectual Property rights?!?
3 Answers
- curtisports2Lv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
It's not legal to photocopy copyrighted material for the purpose of selling it and profiting from it. It is, however, perfectly legal to make photocopies for personal use of copyrighted material. For example, let's say you have some old publications that you are selling on eBay. You can't sell photocopies, but you can make photocopies to use in your eBay listing, to show buyers excerpts from the material. It is also legal to make photocopies of copyrighted material for free distribution.
I'm sure the publishers of the book would prefer that troop leaders bought more books for distribution to scouts, but for cash-strapped troops in tough economic times, I can see some troop leaders doing what this one is. And there's nothing legally wrong with it.
- 5 years ago
I have seen troops do this both ways. As long as the photocopied copy of the merit badge book isn't sold FOR PROFIT, it should be ok.<<<<< Actually, I called the main Scout office, because I was concerned about this issue, as it sounds like you are. This was what they told me.
- mickiinpodunkLv 61 decade ago
If the books, and I don't have one handy at the moment, has a copyright on the inside, yes, this is illegal.
