Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg
In Canada, there is, of course, the fee paid to music copyright holders when you buy blank media:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadia...ing_Collective
But, if the above link is correct, authors, and both book and software publishers, get nothing from that fund. And, as far as I can tell, the Canadian free pass on some downloading does not apply to books. So, if Canada is typical of the high civilized countries you are thinking of, this may not apply to the thread.
When an author writes a book, and a publisher releases it, there is an implicit social contract that their intellectual property will be protected in roughly the manner prescribed by law. The author couldn't reasonably think that there will be zero shoplifting and piracy. But there's a reasonable expectation that some effort will be made to keep down the rate at which books are appropriated contrary to copyright, especially in the more prosperous nations, and especially in the country the book is published in.
Compare this to the situation where paper books are borrowed and sold. The author, when writing the book, had no expectation this would be restricted, so there's no unfairness involved.
Legislatures could fairly pass a law stating that, going forward, all new eBooks can be freely pirated. While fair, I don't think it would be kind to authors, and editors, and the families they support. And I think it would harm me as a reader.
Suppose my boss tells me he isn't planning to pay me for the work I did last week. But if I agree to charge what he calls "better prices" for my labor, he might pay me next week.
Putting aside my emotions concerning the boss, it's just not rational to think my boss is going to pay me that "better" wage. If I am willing to work for zero wages, the official price of my labor becomes irrelevant. We as thrifty readers are that boss. Personally, if I was allowed, in all senses of the word, to download a book for free, I wouldn't download it for $10, or $5, or $1, or one cent.
A mistake. More used cars, or books, sold means higher resale value. Higher resale value and used item cost means publishers can charge more for the new item. |
Good post overall, and I agree with most.
Ebook piracy becoming legal or even regarded by most as okay would not affect me much or those of my generation. Us baby boomers have made our decisions in this matter and say it is legal or illegal is not likely to change our ethics or our habits. We either do it now or we don't.
The world would suffer IMO opinion, not from the lack of bestsellers, but from the lack of rewards for achievement, much as you said in the boss story.
Many writers are high achievers in other areas. I often am told I should write a book, and of course I could write a book, good or bad, but I am too lazy to even try. Lots of things I could do if I actually tried, maybe successfully, maybe not. Sadly I will never know because I seem to lack the jam to try.
Authors are generally people who put their time and energy and even their egos on the line. Many are successful at lucrative and influential careers and have to put in extra time in an already crowded life to even write a book. And of course if the book is a flop they risk being branded a failure and ridiculed by their peers.
Many authors I admire have accomplished pretty substantial things in other fields. Many have contributed in some way to the betterment of society with no financial incentive. A lot more than me or most people I know. Take away the financial incentive to write even if they don't actually need the money might take away the desire to do anything that would benefit the people who are treating them badly.
Not a pretty picture.
Helen