[HansTWN]

Value is what people perceive it to be, whatever somebody is willing to pay for something. Physical existence really does not matter. What must change in the digital age is the perception that works in digital form have zero value, or we will have a future without innovation. If everybody says an ebook has an intrinsic value and is willing to pay a fair price for it --- then it has value. A pbook may even have negative value for a person. Say you mother gives you one, you hate it, but you can't get rid of it or you will disappoint her. So it is just taking up space on your shelf.