Massey Manual Sharing Ideas

[Rford]

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I just ordered a service manual for my MF 231. It will cost me $70 with shipping. I've seen them go as high as $100. That's too much.

I think I ought to make this available to whoever needs it for a small charge to cover copying and mailing. Or else somehow load it and make it available as a PDF file, which I'm happy to do as well. Over on one of the chainsaw forums they have a "manuals wanted" forum where this sharing goes on freely. Anybody think that would be a good idea for tractor manuals? Does anyone think this is wrong?

The manuals I see available for sale are usually just copies anyway. Someone has just taken a factory manual and copied it and is selling it for a good price. It's not like taking a Clymers copywrited manual and making it freely available. Or maybe it is, but its the ACGO company that would be on the short end, because they are the ones being infringed upon (its their original manual that everyone is copying) and apparently they don't care because these photocopied manuals are all over the internet (JENSALES) and Ebay.

[BobRip]

Does it have copyright notice on it? If so you probably cannot copy it. Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Rford]

But if ACGO doesn't enforce it against all those out their selling them, and I assume that's the case because its pretty blatant, I'm not sure its a copyright problem...I bought the one I ordered from a major tractor supply outfit and its a photocopy...they don't seem concerned.

[Jerry/MT]

But if ACGO doesn't enforce it against all those out their selling them, and I assume that's the case because its pretty blatant, I'm not sure its a copyright problem...I bought the one I ordered from a major tractor supply outfit and its a photocopy...they don't seem concerned.

How do you know that the sellers are not selling a licensed version? It could be dealers old stock, or copies from someone like Jensales who most likely have a license.

[Rford]

Don't know...that's why I'm asking....

I just checked out the AGCO site and they are selling the manual for $103 plus shipping and they have their copyright notice printed and warnings to not be copying their stuff. So that pretty much answers all my questions...I won't be sharing my manual with you fellas....and the one I'm getting is probably pirated as well....

[The kid]

But if ACGO doesn't enforce it against all those out their selling them, and I assume that's the case because its pretty blatant, I'm not sure its a copyright problem...I bought the one I ordered from a major tractor supply outfit and its a photocopy...they don't seem concerned.

This would be no different than copying music from Napster. IMHO you would be puting your livelyhood in jepordy. AGCO is aware of the piracy and will act swiftly when they do, so I was told. A formal registered letter from AGCO to ebay and ebay will be axing many a vendor marketing copies of thiere publication. -=robert=-

[Rford]

Also, if its the same manual, the service manual from ACGO is only $45 not $103 (that includes the binder) so its the cheapest around...

[Rford]

Just got may manual from Yesterday's Tractors.

It is a reproduction of the Massey Service Manual. Here's what it says on the front:

This manual is a manual produced by Jensales Inc. without the authorization of Massey Harris Massey Ferguson or It's successors....



The manual itself does not contain a copyright warning.

Interesting to say the least.

[kensnelling]

Just got may manual from Yesterday's Tractors.

It is a reproduction of the Massey Service Manual. Here's what it says on the front:

This manual is a manual produced by Jensales Inc. without the authorization of Massey Harris Massey Ferguson or It's successors....



The manual itself does not contain a copyright warning.

Interesting to say the least.

Wow, that IS pretty ballsy, to freely admit they are selling a pirated copy. Sure seems they could be setting themselves up for an easily lost suit if AGCO was to decide to push the issue.

Ken