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Old 03-24-2008, 02:04 AM   #234
Darqref
space cadet
Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Darqref ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 335
Karma: 2999999
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle area
Device: Rocket PRO, gen3, Pocketbook360
I believe that both of the statements below are true.

1. As an individual downloading reader, it is wrong to not pay for a legal ebook, when requested. There are cases where status as a handicapped person, a serving military person on active duty, a student, or other such persons, are allowed *by the publisher* to pay either nothing or a reduced price. While we sympathize with someone who truly doesn't have money to buy lots of books, it is still truly wrong to not pay for the content you obtain.

BUT.

2. From a publisher's viewpoint, it is NOT TRUE that each download without payment is a lost sale. There is a *potential* sale, but it is simply a fact that some of those infringing downloads would never have been an actual sale. It is also true that sometimes the infringing download will result in an actual sale through recommendation, purchase of follow-on material, or follow-up purchase of the same content when there is an ability to pay.


Now, I also believe the best overall sales will result from being lenient about "pirated" downloads, as long as the actual content is easy to purchase, and available at a fair price. Every download contributes to the overall popularity of the work, and thenceforth to the overall popularity of an author's other works(s), even if it isn't paid for. As long as it's easier to find the legal sale than an illegal product, this will eventually result in higher sales.
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