Quote:
Originally Posted by carld
I've always wondered about that when the anti-copyright folks bring it up. If there were really ways to make money from writing, other than being paid for it, wouldn't most writers already be doing these things to "monetize their work"?
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The folks who bring it up are rarely "anti-copyright." The position that authors and publishers should be pursuing new business models has nothing to do with one's stance on copyright. Copyright only comes into it when media companies try to aggressively expand copyright as a shield against progress.
Also, the whole discussion revolves around
new opportunities created by evolving information networks, so by definition they are not things writers or publishers would "already be doing." There have always been a number of ways that authors monetize their work other than accepting royalties and advances, though: teaching positions, speaking engagements, guest columns, and various forms of sponsorship, fellowship, or patronage, for a few examples.
Some authors, publishers, and booksellers are making innovations and profiting, but others are throwing tantrums or wringing their hands while money sits on the table.