Public Lending Right as a model for ebook pricing

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Also, there's a difference between public lending (library) and private lending (loaning it to your friend). I believe that when a library has to get a special license, it's specifically because they are engaging in public lending.

Anyone know if Overdrive charge libraries more for this than the normal "consumer" cost of the e-book?

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The two are linked. Auto-expiry is the easiest way to enforce the "only x copies at a time" licence requirement.

The two need not be linked. There is no argument that, as you say, auto-expiry is easiest, but there are other means. There is the draconian way of forcing the device doing the reading to authenticate each and every time it. There is also the means of check in, where the user removes the authentication.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Anyone know if Overdrive charge libraries more for this than the normal "consumer" cost of the e-book?

If you're saying that they need a separate license in order to lend "x" copies, then I would assume the price will depend on what x is?

[HarryT]

Volume discounts, you reckon? Very likely - it's certainly common in the software industry.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Also, there's a difference between public lending (library) and private lending (loaning it to your friend).

Enforcement. Private people say lend but they keep a copy and never get the lended one back. It is another word for share.

Dale

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Enforcement. Private people say lend but they keep a copy and never get the lended one back. It is another word for share.

As long as the original person no longer has a copy, I don't see a problem.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Volume discounts, you reckon? Very likely - it's certainly common in the software industry.

I haven't seen too many volume discounts that make it cheaper overall than buying a single copy. Yeah, the price per x may be lower, but I would assume the total will be higher than buying one copy. Maybe I didn't understand what you meant.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Enforcement. Private people say lend but they keep a copy and never get the lended one back. It is another word for share.

It's certainly possible, and legal, to lend without keeping a copy. I'm sure lots of people do it all the time.

Do some people "permanently share copies"... sure, but that's not what I'm talking about. Lending and distributing copies are obviously different things.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I haven't seen too many volume discounts that make it cheaper overall than buying a single copy. Yeah, the price per x may be lower, but I would assume the total will be higher than buying one copy. Maybe I didn't understand what you meant.

No, I agree with you. I think that is very likely the way it works too.

[zerospinboson]

to draw people's attention to an "other side", perhaps have a look at this article?

Out of all of these devices and shops, Amazon has the most frustrating position. With the Kindle, there has been much discussion about whether or not you can lend one. The current Amazon stance is the equivalent of a wink and a nod that you could lend one, but it's against the terms of service. While my first reaction was admiration of shrewdness, it has since evolved into insult. Did Amazon really think that a libraries would not be interested in offering this device to their patrons? Either they are terribly short sighted as to their market or just plain inconsiderate that the well established institution of the library would love to offer a new medium for people to borrow materials.

This simply cannot stand. If this is a product of the electronic industry getting into the publishing business, they need to wake up and smell the pulp. Libraries are not your average customer and we should not be treated as such; for lack of a better analogy, we are the street level dealers to our vast clientele. We deserve to get special treatment.