Is It Legal to Read the Full Free TXT of \"Pride and Prejudice\" by 芥末君?
Can you get the full free TXT of \"Pride and Prejudice\" by 芥末君? The key lies in two things: whether this work is Jane Austen’s classic or a modern derivative, and its copyright status. For the classic original, free reading is totally legal; but for 芥末君’s version, free full TXT may not be allowed unless the author explicitly agrees.First, let’s clarify the difference between the original and this version. Jane Austen’s \"Pride and Prejudice\" was written over 200 years ago, and since the author has been dead for more than 70 years, it falls into the public domain. This means anyone can read, copy, or share its full text for free without copyright issues. However, the phrase \"by 芥末君\" indicates this is a work by a contemporary writer—likely a fanfiction (such as a modern retelling, character spin-off) or a creative adaptation with new plots/settings. This kind of work is original enough to be protected by copyright law the moment it’s created.
Second, why free full TXT might be illegal. Copyright law grants creators exclusive rights to distribute their works. For 芥末君’s version, if the author hasn’t posted the full text on free platforms (like their personal blog or authorized sites) voluntarily, any website or individual sharing the full text without permission is violating copyright. Piracy not only deprives the author of potential income but also undermines their right to control how their work is spread.
Of course, there are legal exceptions. If 芥末君 has released the full TXT for free on their own channels, reading it there is completely okay. But unknown sites offering the full text without the author’s go-ahead are almost certainly hosting pirated content.
In short, Jane Austen’s original \"Pride and Prejudice\" can be read for free legally, but 芥末君’s version is a separate copyrighted work. To read it for free, the only legal way is to look for the author’s official free releases. Any other source may involve copyright infringement.