>Tim O'Reilly wrote:
we're working (with a number of other publishers) on a license that will allow binary redistribution of a book's contents with the software, but will reserve the right to print, publish and sell printed copies to the original publisher.

Tim,

This would be great!

Often, after I've finished reading a book that I've purchased in print, I've wished for an online version that I could use for casual reference. This would in no way diminish my motivation to buy the printed book, as I don't like trying to do extensive on-line reading.

Even if free binary redistribution was not permitted, I wish that more books would come with a CD-ROM containing the content in PDF or HTML. I know you've done so with some of your books, and you are to be commended for it. I've found the Java in a Nutshell Deluxe Edition to be especially useful.

Sincerely,
Eric Smith

Eric,

Great. Then you'll be happy to see our upcoming UNIX CD Bookshelf and Networking CD Bookshelf products! The one drawback with these products seems to be that people are ignoring the "personal use" license putting them up on intranet servers (and even occasionally on internet servers!).

Obviously, this won't be an issue with books that we put up under the "Open Publication License" currently being drafted, but it will remain an issue with books that are under the current license. So if you know anyone who's doing this, please suggest they contact us to negotiate a site license.

--Tim

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