I'm setting up a "Resources" section on my website where I want to include various books and documents as downloadable PDFs. This is the first time I'm handling something like this, so I'm unsure about the legal implications. What could potentially happen if I upload these PDF files directly? Is it safer to link to services like Dropbox or Google Drive instead? Additionally, can I use links from Archive.org? I'm planning to host my site using AWS or Azure, if that makes any difference.
3 Answers
Honestly, your post raises a red flag about the materials you're sharing. If those 'books' aren’t yours, none of the methods you mentioned—like Dropbox or Archive.org links—will protect you from copyright claims. Always better to play it safe with original content or get proper permissions first.
Do you even own the copyrights for the PDFs you're planning to upload? If you don’t have the rights, your site could be taken down, no matter which hosting service you’re using. It's crucial to check that first!
No, they're just PDFs I downloaded from Archive.org.
If the PDFs are your own work or you’ve got permission to share them, then you should be fine. Just make sure you have the right to distribute those files. Otherwise, you could run into trouble down the line.
Well, using Archive.org might still get tricky. Just because it’s available there doesn’t mean you have the right to repost those files directly.