I looked at the free album pages available for download by anyone from the APS web site. These pages were created by Mystic Stamp Company. I think what you are offering is basically the same thing. The APS pages do not use catalog numbers.
You didn't say if you were offering the pages for free or for a charge. However, I would say (my non-legal opinion) in any event that you would have to remove the catalog numbers, or obtain permission from Scott, before you could offer the pages in an open forum.
If you do remove the catalog numbers, you can edit your original post, let me know, and I'll move this post (without this reply) to the Freebies classified ad section.
By removing the Scott number references, I believe that it would make the stamp identification too difficult for the intended users.
I guess that I'll just wait until I've acquired all of the stamps, and come back with the freebie illustrated mini-album.
Could it not be that if you acknowledge that they are Scott numbers from their catalogues that you could be seen to be doing them free advertising?
Why not email Scott and advise what you propose and ask if they would mind you using their numbers.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
From all instances I have heard, Amos Publishing has usually either won or settled enough to essentially win every case to retain control. I know many lawyers speculate on the validity of their claims but the courts decided. Many collectors could not handle the legal aspects if challenged.
In this case, the best advice is to ask rather than wait for some cease and desist letter.
"From all instances I have heard, Amos Publishing has usually either won or settled enough to essentially win every case to retain control. I know many lawyers speculate on the validity of their claims but the courts decided. Many collectors could not handle the legal aspects if challenged. "
The theory and opinions are fine but the reality of the situation is that hobbyists will indeed often get a cease and desist letter from Amos lawyers. So then it becomes a game of ‘chicken’, just how far will Amos drive the hobbyist’s wallet by forcing them to get legal assistance. This intimation might be distasteful but I am sure that Amos considers it good business to protect what they feel is their intellectual property.
But at the end of the day the typical hobbyist is not going to bother to find free/cheap legal assistance and is not going to invest heavily in it; they will simply fold to avoid the costs, headaches, and time suck.
Don
Having finished an album of world wide 2016 Rio Olympic stamps, I looked for my next project.
Starting on the 2012 London Olympics was an easy choice, but a bit too daunting after the 2016. A collection of all of the United States issued postal stamps celebrating the Olympics came to mind, but then I thought of something that might actually be useful to others.
Several years ago, I became involved in a project intended to interest young children in becoming stamp collectors. I created four album sheets of fairly low priced 19th century stamps in PDF format and easily downloadable. The project faded away, due to too many chiefs going in different directions, and the album is just gathering micro dust.
As my next project, I intend to acquire all of the 58 stamps, in unused and extra-fine condition, and create new illustrated PDF's.
The existing PDF's reference Scott numbers, and I don't know if it would be legal for me to offer dowloads to the forum. If some one can tell me if it's acceptable, then all I need is your email address.
Don, if interested, It's available for StampSmarter.
re: PDF sheets available ...
I looked at the free album pages available for download by anyone from the APS web site. These pages were created by Mystic Stamp Company. I think what you are offering is basically the same thing. The APS pages do not use catalog numbers.
You didn't say if you were offering the pages for free or for a charge. However, I would say (my non-legal opinion) in any event that you would have to remove the catalog numbers, or obtain permission from Scott, before you could offer the pages in an open forum.
If you do remove the catalog numbers, you can edit your original post, let me know, and I'll move this post (without this reply) to the Freebies classified ad section.
re: PDF sheets available ...
By removing the Scott number references, I believe that it would make the stamp identification too difficult for the intended users.
I guess that I'll just wait until I've acquired all of the stamps, and come back with the freebie illustrated mini-album.
re: PDF sheets available ...
Could it not be that if you acknowledge that they are Scott numbers from their catalogues that you could be seen to be doing them free advertising?
Why not email Scott and advise what you propose and ask if they would mind you using their numbers.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
re: PDF sheets available ...
From all instances I have heard, Amos Publishing has usually either won or settled enough to essentially win every case to retain control. I know many lawyers speculate on the validity of their claims but the courts decided. Many collectors could not handle the legal aspects if challenged.
In this case, the best advice is to ask rather than wait for some cease and desist letter.
re: PDF sheets available ...
"From all instances I have heard, Amos Publishing has usually either won or settled enough to essentially win every case to retain control. I know many lawyers speculate on the validity of their claims but the courts decided. Many collectors could not handle the legal aspects if challenged. "
re: PDF sheets available ...
The theory and opinions are fine but the reality of the situation is that hobbyists will indeed often get a cease and desist letter from Amos lawyers. So then it becomes a game of ‘chicken’, just how far will Amos drive the hobbyist’s wallet by forcing them to get legal assistance. This intimation might be distasteful but I am sure that Amos considers it good business to protect what they feel is their intellectual property.
But at the end of the day the typical hobbyist is not going to bother to find free/cheap legal assistance and is not going to invest heavily in it; they will simply fold to avoid the costs, headaches, and time suck.
Don