On Mon, 3 Feb 2025 13:29:09 -0700
Arun Khan via PLUG-discuss <
plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:
> Every once in a while Humble Bundle puts together a valuable and
> practical e-book set.
> To the best of my knowledge, the e-books are legit -- over the years I
> have bought several bundles.
> Each bundle has a suggested price that you can modify, as to how much
> of it goes to the charity, the publisher, and HB.
>
> I thought I'd share the latest bundle on Linux titles from O'Reilly:
> https://www.humblebundle.com/books/linux-from-beginner-to-professional-oreilly-books
>
> PS - I have no monetary affiliation with HB or O'Reilly.
> --
> Arun Khan
I was all set to pay my money but then I read the terms. For one thing,
it wasn't clear whether the eBook exists on my hard disk or whether I
have to read a copy on their server. I can't tell whether these are
DRM'ed. I'm due for a new computer in a year or two, and no way I read
all those books before that date in time.
And then there's their indemnification clause, which is a bad one:
==================================================
(c) Indemnity. By using the Service, you agree to indemnify and hold
Humble Bundle, its affiliates, and licensors, and their respective
directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents, harmless with
respect to any claims, liability, damages, expenses and costs
(including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out
of the actual or alleged breach of these Terms by you or through your
download page or your use or access of the Service. You shall use your
best efforts to cooperate with us in the defense of any claim. We
reserve the right, at our own expense, to employ separate counsel and
assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise
subject to indemnification by you.
==================================================
In other words, if a third party sues THEM about my breach *or alleged
breach* of the terms:
* I need to pay the legal costs of the suit, regardless of the suit's
merit.
* I pay any damages awarded to the third party.
* They can assume exclusive defense. It's not stated clearly, but I
think this probably means that their lawyers can settle for $200,000,
and I'm on the hook for that amount. There goes the house.
* They could settle just to get rid of a meritless nuisance suit, and
I'm on the hook.
Yeahhh, nope!
I notice O'Reilly eBooks appear to be non-downloadable so they can
remove your access at any time. For these reasons I'd rather find
alternatives like:
https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2
https://leanpub.com/ansible-for-devops/c/CTVMPCbEeXd3
https://ibook.pub/ql/practical-ansible-configuration-management-from-start-to-finish
Some of these books are more expensive than in the Humble Bundle, but
they don't come with a TOS requiring a lawyer to really understand. And
if I buy it, I should own it. This doesn't mean I should be able to
copy it to others, but I should have unfettered use of it for the rest
of my life, just like if I'd bought a paper book.
SteveT
Steve Litt
Spring 2023 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful
Technologist
http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques
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