Ebook Source – Project Gutenberg
Thousands of Free and Legal Books, Audio Books, and More
May 4, 2009
Project Gutenberg is one of the largest sites on the web that provides free and legal eBooks, audio books, sheet music, and pictures to those who live in the United States. Books and the such included on their site are free because they are now considered to be public domain, meaning they are free of copyright. But some are given to the site by the authors themselves.
Almost all of the works on the site were written before the 20th century, with notable books from Jane Austen and Mark Twain being among the most downloaded on the site. Other featured authors include Oscar Wilde, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Homer, and the Bronte sisters, among many other acclaimed novelists.
Are eBooks Legal?
In this case, yes, so long as the person downloading the eBook lives in the United States. If the person does not, they may still be able to legally download the books, but will have to consult their own country’s copyright laws.
As mentioned previously, most works that are published on Project Gutenberg are now a part of the public domain. In the United States, this usually means that the book’s copyright has expired and has not been renewed, making the work the property of the public, or for the use of all.
Since 1978, Cornell states that U.S. law has specified that all works by an author are protected under copyright during the author’s lifetime and 70 years after their death. For published works written before 1923, however, they are all considered public domain and thus are legally eligible to be downloaded as eBooks on Project Gutenberg.
Free Audio Books, Pictures and Sheet Music
There are books in over 50 languages on the site, including such dialects as Tagalog and Sanskrit. Sheet music, audio books, and pictures can also be legally downloaded. Popular audio eBooks include noted novels such as Little Women, Beowulf, and Peter Pan, as well as prose from Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost.
Free sheet music on the site is especially valuable for musicians, with downloads of famous pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach available. There are also impressive concert recordings on Project Gutenberg such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
Project Gutenberg Perfect for College Students
The books are great for anyone to read, but may most benefit students who are required to read classic novels for various classes. With the price of textbooks and other needed materials for college rising to all time highs, the few dollars saved by downloading a free eBook is a good source of money saved.
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