"The Harbour Lights Survival Guide"

While organizing several boxes of 'lighthouse stuff', I ran across the fourth (1998) and fifth (1999)editions of Jim Rutherford's "The Harbour Lights Survival Guide".

I've been thinking about scanning the entire books into PDF files and making them available at www.HarbourLightsArchives.com for downloading or putting them all on one CD.

These versions are about 80 pages each.

Each version is an 'update' of the previous one, incorporating the content of the previous and adding information on the latest trends and products.

1. Should I move ahead and scan these to PDFs?
2. Would you prefer to download them?
3. OR buy a CD - maybe $15 including shipping?

Or what's your idea?

While these are 'copyright James Rutherford' I hardly think he'll surface to sue me -- or will he?

Finally, who has previous and later versions they'd be willing to loan me?

John,

I may very well be in the minority on this one- seeing in how Jim Rutherford stiffed a number of people for tha last edition of his book- but I don't think it matters if he will surface to sue you.

You know it's a copyrighted book and in my opinion it's wrong to make copies- and especially wrong to charge to do so.

Just my thoughts- every one is entitled to feel differently about this. I believe there's an old saying that goes two wrongs don't make a right.

Dennis

Good points, Dennis. Others?

I agree with Dennis
If you scan them to the Archive.
The archive attachment is to the HL website and then Rutherford could sue Harbour lights. If you ask any kind of money I feel you are asking for a chance for a lawsuit.
Just because Jim reneged on reimbursing money for not fulfilling the orders of his book is pennies compared to a lawsuit especially if he could sue HL. Obviously Jim was pressed for money and may still be. Sueing is an acceptable way of making money and there is no way I would advice anyone to put their selves into a position like that.

I worked with a fellow employee who for ten years our company patiently worked with trying to get him to work harder. What everyone else could do in one day took him a week. He was finally fired. He was 72 when he was fired and is now sueing the company claiming the company fired him because of his age.

If you wanted to use his information and reword it into your own words I think that would be okay. All Rutherfords’ info came from Harbour Lights and most of that same info has been shared with us already from Bill. That info also has been used on this forum freely. So how is anyone to say where it came from as long as you don’t quote Jim Rutherford.

But to copy something word for word from a copyrighted book I feel you are just asking for trouble. Before you did, I would definitely seek an attorney’s advice.

John,

I'll visit you in prison.

bobo

OK, OK, it was a bad idea. Thanks for steering me towards to straight life and away from the life of a plagerist.

I've put it out of my mind forever. (It was those images of prison life, Bob.)

It's okay....we just didn't want our John to look like this:



You knew it was a matter of time before someone tinkered with that picture.

Very good, Greg.

I am not trying to ride a dead horse, but I found some interesting info on Copyrights.

10 Big Myths about copyright explained

What would "The Harbour Lights Survival Guide" cover? Just curious.

How can I answer your question without showing you the book itself?
I think the best thing is to list the table of Contents of Jim Rutherford's last issue.

1. Harbour Lights Today?
Lighthouse popularity?
What is Collectiblity?
The invisible hand?
What is retirement?
What is retired Shelf Life?
Who collects Harbour Lights?
Why is Harbour Lights Successful?

2. Yearbooks
Yearbook: Pre-History
Yearbook:1991
Yearbook:1992
Yearbook:1993
Yearbook:1994
Yearbook:1995
Yearbook:1996
Yearbook:1997
Yearbook:1998
Yearbook:1999
Yearbook: The Future

3. The Inside Story
How are Collectables produced?
Making Harbour Lights
The seahorses
Lighthouse Scuptors
Variations
Variation List
Variation Detail
Projected Desirability
Lighthouse Appreciation

4. Colleting Tips
Piece inspection
Piece Numbers
Secondary Sales
Buying and selling on the internet
Restoration
Protecting your investment

5. Lighthouse capsules

Conclusion

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if Jim Rutherford is still alive? Is there anyone on the CF that lived near him that could confirm that fact?

There was so much ill will when Jim didn't refund peoples' money he took on deposit that surely he would have had some bad luck along the way.

Bob

Hi Daniel,
the table of contents answers my question. Thanks much.