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Old 01-04-2011, 06:59 PM   #49
bhartman36
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Jersey, USA
Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021)
Of all the things on the list, the only one I have a strong opinion on is #10. I think he's dead on that DRM will still be with us at the end of 2011. I think he's wrong on the way the DRM problem will end, though.

I'm not a supporter of DRM. I wish it could go away. I'm just getting started with selling my writing, but nothing I've ever offered up for sale has had DRM on it. But my profits at this point can be measured in sacks of White Castle hamburgers -- and not those fancy large sacks, either. But if I had real money riding on my writing -- say, I was hoping that my writing could help pay the mortgage (or in my case, rent) each month -- I'm not sure I'd be so eager to have my stuff out there DRM-free. Even in the small circles I roll in, I've heard of two authors (one a family member) who've been blindsided by having their books appear on multiple pirate websites. I have no faith in my fellow man's ability to abide by the eighth commandment.

Publishers and authors will feel better about releasing DRM-free material when piracy subsides, not just when e-book sales pick up. Why? Because it's hard to be excited that 500 more of your books than last month were sold when 5,000 more of your books than last month were stolen. It only makes sense to be excited if sales go up without a similar rise in piracy. It's also not a fair comparison unless you track the same book DRM'ed and non-DRM'ed.

I don't know what the solution is, but I don't think immediately removing all DRM and calling piracy a boogeyman is it.
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