MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cutting Prices is the only way to stop piracy

richrock · 03-16-2011, 03:50 AM

Here's my 2p worth (from the UK):

Geo-restriction : I can understand this, as a web developer, a recent project involved getting free remastered music online, but copyright law in different countries meant the client was severely hampered at a worldwide release, but now has to work out legal wranglings per country... Annoying, but in terms of ebooks, the same copyright issues still apply as far as I'm aware... I can wait, but only so long....

Prices are ridiculous - again as a web dev, I can tell you that storage in Cloud servers would be next to nothing, and each download would cost a fraction of a cent (most are US-based that I've dealt with). As the file size is what 0.5mb - 4mb (ish) it's virtually free to store. That leaves the typical costs of editing, proofreading and setting of the file. I've not got much idea of these, and so would guess that they would equate to around 50% of the cost of a book. I'm prepared to pay up to 75% of a 'real' version, otherwise - again - I'll wait. BUT only so long before it's available 'elsewhere'. I'd like to honour the authors with my cash for their efforts, not everything should be free.

Try doing your full-time job for nothing. Then pay the bills - with what?

I think publishers should seriously look at the previous models for film and music, and take note. Trying to force similar values to e-versions and the hard-copy versions doesn't work. Lower the prices, get more sales. Yeah, theres always gonna be piracy in these days, but compelling pricing would reduce a large portion of that.

Rant over. :-)

03-16-2011, 03:50 AM	#25
richrock Sony Reader Fanatic Posts: 43 Karma: 254098 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS 505	Here's my 2p worth (from the UK): Geo-restriction : I can understand this, as a web developer, a recent project involved getting free remastered music online, but copyright law in different countries meant the client was severely hampered at a worldwide release, but now has to work out legal wranglings per country... Annoying, but in terms of ebooks, the same copyright issues still apply as far as I'm aware... I can wait, but only so long.... Prices are ridiculous - again as a web dev, I can tell you that storage in Cloud servers would be next to nothing, and each download would cost a fraction of a cent (most are US-based that I've dealt with). As the file size is what 0.5mb - 4mb (ish) it's virtually free to store. That leaves the typical costs of editing, proofreading and setting of the file. I've not got much idea of these, and so would guess that they would equate to around 50% of the cost of a book. I'm prepared to pay up to 75% of a 'real' version, otherwise - again - I'll wait. BUT only so long before it's available 'elsewhere'. I'd like to honour the authors with my cash for their efforts, not everything should be free. Try doing your full-time job for nothing. Then pay the bills - with what? I think publishers should seriously look at the previous models for film and music, and take note. Trying to force similar values to e-versions and the hard-copy versions doesn't work. Lower the prices, get more sales. Yeah, theres always gonna be piracy in these days, but compelling pricing would reduce a large portion of that. Rant over. :-)