Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

So say I want a nice hardcover book of a favorite author's short stories.
I know there are places online that will print a book for you but I don't own the rights to these stories(I HAVE bought them in other collections or they were free online). Does anybody know if that's a problem? Do they take a serious look at what you send them to print?

You in fact do not have the right to do this; the word 'copyright' means 'the right to copy' and I assume you do not have a copyright.

Is the author still alive? Suppose you ask him or her? You pay her a fee and she signs a one-use agreement with you, and you're copacetic. You could even offer to have 2 copies made (it won't be much more $) and give her one.

i think you can just pay people to hard cover paperbacks for you and then get the printing neded for the wraparound done anyway?

i am fairly sure this would fit what you need?

Not to get into what I think of copyright laws, I was just wondering if anybody else ha done this and what was the result. I can't be the first one to have the idea.
As for asking the author, even if I did get an answer I'm sure there would still be issues with their publishing company.

Cody wrote: "i think you can just pay people to hard cover paperbacks for you and then get the printing neded for the wraparound done anyway?"
No, the stories are scattered all over. I want to get them all printed in one book.

Book Nerd wrote: "Not to get into what I think of copyright laws, I was just wondering if anybody else ha done this and what was the result. I can't be the first one to have the idea.
As for asking the author, even ..."

ah my mistake sorry, in which case just get a company to do it and then send it to a frinds adress - whats the worse hat can happen? lol

I'm not familiar with copy right law, but it seems to be it would be like making a copy of a DVD you own. As long as you don't intend to distribute copies what's the harm?

If the stories are in various other magazines/books, then you are making a new compilation. It is indeed a copyright issue. It is unlikely (unless you're stupid enough to try and sell the thing on Amazon or something) that the author will find out about it, I agree. But IMO it would be nice to ask her. I assure you (as an author myself) that she will be flattered and pleased with your interest. Even indicating that you would be interested in such a thing may kick her into motion to get a commercial collection out there. If you like her writing, you do not want to rip her off -- you want to support and help her, so that she can write more.
It is also possible that she herself no longer has the copyright to some of those works. You could look in the beginning of the magazine or book and see. If she wrote a work under a work-for-hire contract then someone else has the copyright, and that someone else may not be lowly and impoverished. That someone else might have teeth (think Disney, or George Lucas) and you might find yourself in trouble.

Likely there are different copyright owners on short stories. It would be a mess to ask because the author probably can't give you permission for them all. Depends on the rights she sold.

Since you collected them all legally & just want to make a copy for yourself in a different form, I'd just do it, if you can find someone to do a proper job on for just one copy. I'd guess the author name would be an automatic flag for any of the big companies, even if you just got a trial print. Definitely don't use any of the cover art from her other work. That's a whole other issue.