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about the Prepublication Manuscript
1. Are you offering to sell me anything?
2. Are you advertising or promoting any product or service?
3. If you aren't selling or advertising anything, why are you doing this?
8. Is this book Conference-approved literature?
9. Isn't this book against the Traditions?
10. Should a printed copy be displayed at A.A. ® meetings.
11. This is Version 2006.1. Will there be other versions?
13. Who should not use this book?
14. Why is the book available as a PDF file?
15. Why not provide the book in plain text or html files.
16. Can we scan a printed copy or otherwise convert the PDF file to editable text.
17. Can we print the PDF file.
18. Can I print several copies of this book?
19. What's special about December 31, 2007?
20. Can we change the PDF file.
21. Can a person with enough experience defeat the PDF file restrictions.
22. Why are you asserting a copyright interest in this book?
23. In OurBasicText™ what does the little ™ mean?
24. Printing long files is a lot of trouble. Can I buy a printed copy from you?
25. If you know that there are errors and omissions, why did you publish the book on the Internet?
26. Where can I get a copy of the prepublication manuscript.
27. Can I help with this project?
28. I would like to link to this website. How can I do that?
29. Why do I need to get this book by email? Why can’t I just download it directly?
1. Are you offering to sell me anything?
No.
2. Are you advertising or promoting any product or service?
No. We want to avoid actual or implied affiliation with anyone. We are not associated with any website that has linked to ours. In particular, if you see any promotional message or advertisement for any product or service in connection with our website, it didn't come from us and is against our wishes.
3. If you aren't selling or advertising anything, why are you doing this?
It's one way we can take Step Twelve, and this helps us to stay sober ourselves. Besides, for us, it's a pleasure.
We do.
We want to remain anonymous.
The main author of this book wants to remain anonymous. O. B. T. is a pseudonym (pen name) which comes from the phrase "our basic text."
No. The authors are not professional writers and do not claim any special expertise in writing this kind of study aid. Our motto is "We realize we know only a little." (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 164, lines 11-12)
8. Is this book Conference-approved literature?
No. This book is NOT A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature. Conference-approved literature represents the broadest possible consensus on materials that can be used by all alcoholics. In contrast, this book was written by only a few people and is intended to be used only by A.A. members who have recovered and are interested in the history of the Big Book. ® This is a private work and is neither endorsed or sponsored by nor is it affiliated, connected, or associated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Service, Inc. in any way.
9. Isn't this book against the Traditions?
We sincerely believe that making this book available by email is consistent with the Twelve Traditions. We have taken great care to respect the copyrights and trademarks that belong to Alcoholics Anonymous World Service, Inc. "Nothing would please us so much as to write a book which would contain no basis for contention or argument." (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 19, lines 28-30) The authors of this book appreciate the dedicated service of all the members of the A.A. General Service Conference. We would never intentionally do anything that would harm A.A. ®
10. Should a printed copy be displayed at A.A. ® meetings.
No. A.A. General Service Conference Advisory Action makes clear that only Conference-approved literature should be on display at meetings.
11. This is Version 2006.1. Will there be other versions?
If all goes well, we intend to make available a later, corrected version through our website, www.page164.org by January 1, 2008. We are depending on you to send us suggestions for corrections and additions.
This book is intended to be a study aid for by A.A. members who have recovered and are interested in the history of the Big Book. ®
13. Who should not use this book.
This book may not be used by a person who is newly sober without the approval and direct supervision of his or her sponsor. It may not be used by any person who is a minor (or any other person whose status is similar to that of a minor) without the permission of his or her parent or guardian.
14. Why is the book available as a PDF file?
We decided to make the book available as a PDF (portable document format) file because these files can be used by a very large number of people. The book can be read using Adobe® Reader® Version 5.0 or later. We have no connection with this company. You can download a free copy of the latest software at their own website. This is not an advertisement for them. It's just a fact of life that if you want to use PDF files, you've got to use their software.
15. Why not provide the book in plain text or html files.
Such files are very easy to change. Garbled versions could easily start to spread. This is a work in progress. We plan to communicate a later corrected version using our website. We are open to suggestions for additions and corrections, but we really believe that we should be consulted about any changes. Considering the effort we have put into this book, we think that's fair and reasonable. Also, the PDF files preserve the spacing of the letters on the page.
16. Can we scan a printed copy or otherwise convert the PDF file to editable text.
We ask that you don't do it. This would produce the same problems mentioned in the previous question. Also, it would inevitably lead to errors in converting the PDF file to text.
17. Can we print the PDF file.
Yes, but we ask that whenever you print a copy that you include the first six pages which include important notices.
18. Can I print several copies of this book?
Yes, subject to the Terms of Use, you can print up to three copies. However, all copies should be considered outdated after December 31, 2007. They need to be replaced.
19. What's special about December 31, 2007?
This book is a work in progress. We want to publish a later, corrected version on our website by January 1, 2008. We don't want old, uncorrected copies to continue to exist and to be reproduced.
20. Can we change the PDF file.
We hope you won't make changes to the book without consulting us. The PDF file is restricted to allow printing only.
21. Can a person with enough experience defeat the PDF file restrictions.
Of course, but we believe that the people who will be most interested in this book are alcoholics who are trying to practice the Twelve Steps. These people are motivated by their own integrity and the requirements of rigorous honesty. For these people, the simple request that they follow the Terms of Use is likely to be all that's needed. This cooperation will greatly assist our efforts to help other alcoholics, and it is very much appreciated.
22. Why are you asserting a copyright interest in this book?
Only certain elements are copyrighted by O.B.T. The rest remains under copyright by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. If a work is in the public domain, people can change it in any way they like without consulting us. We don't think that would be fair. It also means that anyone can print garbled copies and sell them.
23. In OurBasicText™ what does the little ™ mean?
It is a symbol for trademark. This trademark, "OurBasicText™", will distinguish our Line-by-Line comparison from any other. This gives us certain legal rights which we retain, but we believe that a simple request, that nobody else use it, is likely to be all that's needed.
24. Printing long files is a lot of trouble. Can I buy a printed copy from you?
No. For now, we have no plans to publish a conventional printed version of this book. The cost is simply prohibitive. We have printed only a few copies of earlier versions. We know that some alcoholics who are confined to correctional facilities can receive written materials only if they come directly from a conventional publisher or bookstore. With that fact in mind, there is a possibility that we may be able to print copies of a later version of the book someday. If we do, it would be through an "on demand" publishing company because the startup costs are less. Since these companies only print the books as they are ordered, there are no volume discounts. Often these copies tend to be rather expensive. At this time, we can't say when, or if, this might be done.
25. If you know that there are errors and omissions, why did you publish the book on the Internet?
We've done everything we can think of to catch the mistakes. We've been working on this book, off and on, for more than thirteen years. We are probably too close to it to see the mistakes that are still there. Also, even though it's far from perfect, we believe that it's now good enough to be useful.
26. Where can I get a copy of the prepublication manuscript.
We got a photocopy reproduction from the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous.
27. Can I help with this project?
Yes. We would like to hear from you. We are particularly interested in any corrections and additions you might have. We are depending on you to send us suggestions. You can visit our website, www.page164.org.
Each person who suggests a change must clearly understand that the intellectual property rights of any submission are assigned to the principal author of this book. This assignment includes all rights in any medium of expression currently in existence or which may be invented in the future. Also, the principal author, whose pseudonym is O. B. T., may make any modifications to the submission which, in his sole judgment, he determines ought to be made.
Why do this? If a work is in the public domain, people can change it in any way they want. It also means that anyone can print garbled copies and sell them. The authors of this book are not willing to risk letting any part of it fall into the public domain or risk letting the copyright status become unclear.
28. I would like to link to your website. How can I do that?
Subject to the Terms of Use, you should use the following:
If you live in the U.S.A., where parts of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, ® are in the public domain, a PDF copy of OurBasicTextTM Prepublication Manuscript: A line-by-line comparison with the later editions to page 181 can be downloaded, at no charge, using www.page164.org
29. Why do I need to get this book by email? Why can’t I just download it directly?
The website, page164.org, originates in the United States where the book is in the public domain. However, we have been informed that since it can be viewed worldwide, it may constitute publishing in other countries. We want to avoid any controversy.