Scott - Michel Conversion Charts

Is there any Scott (Sc) to Michel (Mi) and Mi to Sc Conversion Charts or Utility App online or anywhere for that matter?

I have compiled Sc/Mi/Yv cross-reference index for personal use but only for classic Lithuania stamps http://www.lithuanianphilately.com/X-Reference.asp

Drucifer:

Good luck finding such a list.. other than something on a small scale, like litphil has done. About twenty years ago, someone came out with a Scott-Stanley Gibbons Cross Reference List for the British Commonwealth. Scott protects their copyright with impunity. Anyone coming out with such a list, and who does not pay royalties to Scott would find themselves in court, very quickly.

That being said, I'd love one for the KGVI reign for Scott & Stanlry Gibbons.

David

Some country specific special catalogs (like Zumstein's Switzerland) contain cross-references, but AFAIK nothing large scale exists due to copyrights. Like Amos/Scott, also Michel is very protective with their copyrights.

I have Conversion Charts for WWII era stamps from Europe if you are interested.

Its a shame that there can't be some unity between the major catalogue players to help there clients - the collectors.

Doesn't copyright lapse after 50 years or something?

Also I think copyright is only infringed when the information is sold (am I correct here?) If members were to post their lists for other members to use for free we could get quite a large conversion document going.

I can sympathize with everyone on this issue. It would be nice if the major catalog publishers would permit such a cross-reference. In fact, a few legal cross-references have existed in the past. The most recent one I can think of was the Scott-Minkus cross-reference for US stamps. Minkus paid a licensing fee to produce it. And Scott made them publish it separately as part of the licensing agreement.

I can also understand why the publishers have a very strong incentive to keep a tight lid on their numbering systems. It's a business, and they have to protect their intellectual property through copyright and licensing.

My beef with Scott is not with their copyright, but with their lack of innovation in making their catalogs more practical and affordable. They are digging their own grave with their current business model.



Copyright rules and enforcement vary considerably among the different countries. Particularly the enforcement. Scott simply copyrights the new catalog every year. If you use a catalog from 50 years ago, you will find many Scott catalog numbers have actually changed. Any cross-reference system based on such old catalog numbers would not be sufficiently accurate. Also, the ace up their sleeve is that they have trade-marked most of their business phrases -- "Scott", "Scott's", "Scott number"... their lawyers might tie you up in court for years.



That is not correct. It does not have to be sold. It only has to be reproduced, distributed, or in any other way made available for viewing to a number of people that exceed "fair use". Legally, there are several exceptions, such as for library, education..., all of which fall under "fair use", but there is also a unwritten numerical limit to how many is considered "fair use". For instance, you cannot simply copy 10 pages from the Scott catalog as a teaching tool for a class of 100 people. You would have to ask for permission. This kind, Scott and most companies would very likely grant without licensing fees.

Scott does list certain permissions for use of its copyrighted work. However, term (c) in their list is designed to specifically preclude the use of their numbers in any sort of catalog (which by definition, would rule out a comprehensive cross-reference).

You ARE permitted by law to create your own cross-reference for any catalogs you own. To distribute them, unfortunatey, is a different story.

k

Didn't know this was a can of worms.

Could somebody please list all the catalog indexes? I know of Scott (Sc), Michel (Mi), Stanley Gibbons (??), ?????? (Yv).

I'm glad you like them.

I think that's it as far as World Wide catalogues go. Yv is Yvert, a French company.

Each country will have it's own Stamp Catalogues of course, that list only stamps of the home country. For example in Australia we have the Australian Commonwealth Specialists Catalogue published by Brusden-White (BW) and the Australasian Stamp Catalogue by Seven Seas (ASC) which is crap btw These and SG are the most commmonly used catalogues here. Scott is generally not used at all, unless you're buying from sellers in the US.

But for World Wide, I think you've covered them all, AFAIK anyway.

Balf

Just remembered something usefull...

PostBeeld does provide partial cross-references (with images) in form of sales/wantlists. And IMHO it's quite complete reference they are providing (missing mainly classic, specialized and very expensive issues).

Without a doubt they are using "a common practise" to pass-by the copyright dilemna, but... AFAIK there is no way to bring them down legally without denying every stamp seller from using catalogue numbers when selling items. Sneaky or what....

Hi sharksfan11,

I would like to have a copy of the Conversion Charts for WWII era stamps from Europe .
You should be able to access to my email from my profile.

Thanks in advance.

I will get that to you a little later today.

I noticed in a link posted in another thread that there was in fact a website that offered software for cross referencing of Scott, Gibbons and Yvert, known as Phildex. They were shut down by Scott for breach of copywrite. Their website still exists with a copy of the letter they received from Scott's attorney, and a note saying that until they reached a licencing agreement with Scott their software wouldn't be available. That was back in 2002, so I take it they can't get Scott to agree.

Balf

Minkus been mention in this thread. But it sounds like they used Scott.

Krause no longer publishes the Minkus catalog for US postage stamps. The only one I keep as an archive in my library is 2001, which I believe was the last bound catalog they published. That was also the one in which they offered a free licensed cross-reference to Scott that they would mail you if you sent off the coupon.