Grok prompt number 1. View in the Grok app Open Grok Ok is…

MarkKordusic ·

Grok prompt number 1.

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Ok is it illegal in any way shape or form to take a photo of a maths textbook page , and or the entire contents of book which i presume is copyrighted
And posting to blockchain or intern?
Thought for 7s
Yes, it is generally illegal — this constitutes copyright infringement in Australia (and most countries).⁠Studentedge
Why it's infringement
Copyright law (Australia's Copyright Act 1968) automatically protects textbooks as literary works. The owner (usually the author/publisher) has exclusive rights to:
Reproduce/copy the work (including photographing pages).
Communicate/publish it to the public (posting online or to a blockchain).
Taking photos of pages creates a reproduction. Posting those photos (or the full book) online makes it available to the public, which is infringement.⁠Stephens
This applies whether you claim ownership or not — attribution doesn't make it legal. The entire book or substantial parts are clearly not allowed. Even a single page can infringe if it's a "substantial part" (depends on quality/importance, not just quantity).
Exceptions (fair dealing) — very limited
Australia has fair dealing exceptions (narrower than US "fair use"), mainly for:
Research or study (personal use).
Criticism/review.
Parody/satire.
News reporting.
For textbooks:
You can typically copy up to 10% or one chapter for personal research/study.⁠Library
This does not cover posting publicly online or sharing widely.
Educational institutions have some statutory licences, but individuals don't for public distribution.
Photographing for your own private notes might be okay under fair dealing, but uploading it crosses the line.⁠Deakin
Blockchain doesn't help
Posting to a blockchain (e.g., via NFTs or decentralized storage) is still public distribution/communication. It doesn't bypass copyright — it's just another way of making the content available. Blockchain can help prove ownership for creators, but not justify infringing someone else's work.⁠Ethereum.stackexchange
Consequences
Copyright holders can issue takedown notices (DMCA equivalents), sue for damages, or seek injunctions.
Platforms (websites, blockchain nodes) may remove content.
In Australia, it's civil (not usually criminal unless large-scale/commercial), but still risky.
Bottom line: Don't do it for the full book or substantial portions. For one page in a limited educational context with strong fair dealing justification, it might be defensible — but posting publicly is risky. Best to use public domain/out-of-copyright materials, open textbooks, or get permission. Consult a lawyer for your specific situation, as this isn't legal advice.
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