MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - “Sony Developing New DRM to Make Used eBooks Viable”

FizzyWater · 11-11-2014, 08:03 PM

I've always felt that I'd be willing to pay a small surcharge on used books that could be split between the publisher and author. I suspect that would be a nightmare for print bookstores, but if arranged carefully, I think it could be built into any kind of used ebook plan that rolled out.

For print books, I always heard that authors made some very small amount per print book - like 6 cents! So charge 50 cents and let the author and publisher split it.

I don't know what would be fair for ebooks though. It's not like there's potential damage, as with print books. Unless they build in a limit of reselling options, then you could consider it the same kind of "deteriorating" benefits with each resale.

I was a poor student once, and I started out at crappy wages. Used books were the only way I could feed my reading addiction. As I got older and made more money, I could afford to buy them new, although sometimes I'd still buy old, just for the fun of finding new treasures at the used book stores.

I would like to think we could find a way to continue the tradition, if you want to think of it that way, of having used ebooks for those who for whatever reason want/need the lower prices.

11-11-2014, 08:03 PM	#24
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I've always felt that I'd be willing to pay a small surcharge on used books that could be split between the publisher and author. I suspect that would be a nightmare for print bookstores, but if arranged carefully, I think it could be built into any kind of used ebook plan that rolled out. For print books, I always heard that authors made some very small amount per print book - like 6 cents! So charge 50 cents and let the author and publisher split it. I don't know what would be fair for ebooks though. It's not like there's potential damage, as with print books. Unless they build in a limit of reselling options, then you could consider it the same kind of "deteriorating" benefits with each resale. I was a poor student once, and I started out at crappy wages. Used books were the only way I could feed my reading addiction. As I got older and made more money, I could afford to buy them new, although sometimes I'd still buy old, just for the fun of finding new treasures at the used book stores. I would like to think we could find a way to continue the tradition, if you want to think of it that way, of having used ebooks for those who for whatever reason want/need the lower prices.