In the US you have the right to format shift [other] media for personal under the so-called "fair use" exceptions (7 USC 107, <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107" rel="nofollow">http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107</a>), don't you?<p>This creates an absurdity.<p>You can purchase the book and scan it, create your own EPUB and own that copy (but only use one copy at a time!) or you can purchase the EPUB (or whatever format) and have a much more limited license.<p>Of course scanning a book is hard work. You'll want to outsource that. So you buy a book of the shelf, the company scan it for you - your book, your format shift, hired help - and forward your copy of the book (now in EPUB format) and kindly dispose of the book for you.<p>You're now using paper as a digital transmission medium, wasting a whole lot of energy, producing a lot of waste and the result to the customer is the same as if the publisher just sold you the book in EPUB format at the regular books store price¹.<p>Of course I'm sure common sense will win out in the courts ...<p>--<p>1 - I'm assuming a book shop could scan the books and cover their costs in the usual retail margin by not needing a high street location and by selling the books on for pulping.<p>Aside I - In the UK there is no "fair use" but instead a far more restrictive idea of "fair dealing", see www.ipo.gov.uk/ipreview-doc-j.pdf for a recent comparison.<p>Aside II - Australia (<a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/s110aa.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/...</a>) have a similar format shifting provision but it specifically applies to "videotape embodying a cinematograph film in analog form" which is messed up in more ways than one.