Quote:
Originally Posted by Sregener
There are some obvious problems with this idea. First, it would take some serious DRM improvements to make sure that if you loan the book to friend #1, you can't also loan it at the same time to friend #2 (or continue reading it yourself.)
But the real issue here is one I can perfectly understand. It wouldn't take long for somebody to set up a server to connect "friends" who want the same eBook, and instead of selling tens of thousands of copies, the same 100-200 copies would be "shared" with "friends" all over the world. You'd end up with a virtual library that would serve the entire world, and it wouldn't cost much to set up and run, and a few donations would keep it running. And since the eBooks would always be perfect and delivery would be cheap, there'd be no reason to buy more copies. Even people who must have the latest book the day it is released could find incentives to "donate" their eBook once they're done with it to the global library. With a physical book, the costs involved in locating other interested readers and shipping to them prevents this from being a viable option, though it staggers my mind how many books are available for $0.01 used on Amazon, plus shipping, which works out to $4/book.
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And what would be wrong with that?
A virtual library serving the entire world sounds terrific.
If I understand correctly the problem you bring up is that you wouldn't need to replace the book.
I think it boils down to the fact that if an author is going to release a book as an ebook, they are going to take a profit cut per book as opposed to paper. No one is forced to release ebook versions of their work, but if they want the wider audience made available by ebooks, they should understand the drawbacks. Seems like publishers want to have their cake and eat it too, with ebooks.
Your point about DRM is a good one. As opposed as I am to DRM that limits you to one device or one account or one person, some form of DRM that simply limits the ability to copy a work would not be a bad idea. Then a book could be loaned out, sent around, etc., but not copied to everyone else's hard drive.