Quote:
Originally Posted by DixieGal
I never thought of it that way. I guess in such a situation where an ebook was copied to someone instead of physically handed to someone else, it would be possible for a single buyer to make a negative impact on sales. Much to consider here.
|
That's what the people imposing DRM are afraid of, at least. I'm not so sure it's the case, and that pass along copy might just
boost sales of other books by that author, because the person you hand it to likes the book and goes looking for more books by that author. That's the Baen Free Library model, and it's worked well for them.
I think a lot of the impulse towards DRM is based on underlying assumptions about the market. If you assume the majority of folks who might buy your stuff are no-good so-and-so's who will cheerfully steal it if they get a chance, you feel Measures Must Be Taken, and look at DRM solutions. If you assume the majority of the market
will pay for value, you think about how to provide value and how to price for the value you provide. You'll get
some theft, but you'll
always get some theft. The question is whether draconian measures are needed to stop it.
I'm always tempted to ask the "they're all no-good so-and-sos who will try to rip me off" crowd "Why do you assume that? Is it because it's what you would do, and you think everyone else is just like
you?"
______
Dennis