This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.
I found this notice on the copyright page of something I bought at a recent used book sale. I can’t recall seeing a warning so overtly hostile to book borrowers and hope I never do again. I know about the first sale doctrine, and that this is completely unenforceable, but it still offends me. Should I contact the author for instructions on returning it unread?
It does appear to be self-published, by a local author. He should have known of and approved what boilerplate he was attaching to his text.
Agreed. Sometimes it’s better to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume honest mistake until they demonstrate otherwise though.
The terms have no legal standing in the United States. The first-sale doctrine limits right holders ability to restrict resales of their work.