I've compiled a list of points of view expressed in this (and other) threads. Note that many of these are mutually exclusive-- this isn't meant to be a consensus, but an inventory of opinions expressed. I'm sure I missed some. Anyone want to chime in?
I was thinking we could have a survey or poll on sticky at the top of the section, so people could see that most of these arguments have been rehashed already, and see how people have weighed in over time.
DRM and piracy Points of View:
- Anyone who downloads an ebook from the darknet is a pirate and a criminal.
- Anyone who uploads an ebook to the darknet is a pirate and a criminal.
- Downloading or uploading ebooks via the darknet is a civil, not criminal offense.
- Downloading an ebook from the darknet if you already own a copy of the same book in paper is morally ok.
- Downloading an ebook from the darknet if it is out of print is morally ok.
- Downloading an ebook from the darknet is the equivalent to borrowing a book from your local library.
- Downloading an ebook from the darknet if you are poor is ok, because you wouldn't have been able to afford to buy it anyway.
- Most people will download ebooks from the darknet if they are available there for free.
- Few people will download ebooks from the darknet.
- Most people would pay for ebooks at a "reasonable price" if they were available, rather than downloading them from the darknet.
- Illegal downloads of ebooks are a significant threat to authors' incomes.
- Illegal downloads of ebooks do not affect authors' incomes significantly.
- Illegal downloads of ebooks increase authors' incomes significantly, by increasing exposure to the authors' work.
- Ebooks on the darknet are low-quality.
- There are high-quality sources of ebooks on the darknet.
- DRM is needed by publishers and authors to protect their intellectual property.
- DRM is evil - it punishes legitimate customers but doesn't stop hackers from copying files
- DRM is irrelevant
- Some kinds of DRM are ok, but not others.
- Ebooks should cost:
--The same as the current lowest-cost paper version
--The same as the current highest-cost paper version
--Discounted from the lowest-cost paper version
--Discounted by the difference between ebook production and paper production costs
--No more than US$6
--No more than US$2
--Free
- Authors deserve to be paid for their work
- Authors should depend on other sources for income, e.g. speaking engagements
- Publishers deserve to be paid for their work (editing, typesetting, etc.)
- Publishers are becoming irrelevant and should be cut out of the process.