Quote:
Originally Posted by BookCat
Thank you for the clarification. I'm always worried about being thrown off the site if I join in a discussion of this type. Harry once ticked me off for casually mentioning that I was reading a Wodehouse novel which had been a freebie. I'd downloaded it from MR before the rules were changed and I genuinely thought it was in the UK public domain, not having researched the date of Wodehouse's death. Since then, I avoid the subject.
I just wanted to point out to the OP that Amazon often charge for public domain ebooks.
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I had similar concerns which is why I asked for clarification in the "Calibre Doesn't Remove DRM" thread. Apparently we can even discuss tools!
Feel that the OPs question is rather simple. Why pay for an otherwise free book?
To that person:
Amazon provides support for books purchased through the store and when you have a problem they can provide recourse. As you and others stated, you are supporting the entire supply chain with every purchase. From Amazon all the way to the editors, publisher and author.
A Public Domain book (along with everything Amazon sells) has been professionally edited and though there are plenty of examples of poorly formatted items available in the store, they typically include valuable goodies such as introductions to the material and other content which truly adds value to the reading experience.
Be aware that just because a book is offered freely doesn't make it 'free'. Sometimes publishers or Amazon will offer a limited time deal, or offer something free of cost and later decide to charge. Shop according to price and values. If you can buy a PS4 for $200 at Walmart or $300 at Best Buy you need to first think about price and second think about which merchant you wish to support with your dollars. But the only time something is truly free is if the author/publisher states it being so or otherwise mandated by law. It is the difference between free beer and free(dom). Microsoft offered Windows 10 for free. Different from Linux which is intrinsically free by terms of its license.
Laws regulate property, they don't regulate morality. I believe most people have a natural sense of right and wrong. I am not an advocate for piracy just as I don't say that people don't have justification to sometimes break the contracts that service providers such as Amazon require. Put yourself in the shoes of the content creators and ask if you are denying someone profit that they are reasonably entitled to and if you would resent people doing the same with your life's work. Morality is all about the Golden Rule. As for legality, ask someone familiar with the laws of your jurisdiction.