Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
My question is, why throw in the towel this early in the game? Paid music downloads are doing quite well. What we need is no DRM (best) or at least DRM that works on every device.
|
Absolutely. We need to get rid of DRM.
I'm thinking ahead further. I think authors are going to struggle to make enough money from the 'iTunes' model because the price will be driven very low by competition (free books, e.g. public domain, amateur) and unlike musicians, authors have limited alternative revenue streams.
Is selling an infinitely copyable file going to be as reliable an income stream as relinquising all copyright concerns and generating income using ads, sponsorship, etc?
Realistically, an iTunes system will probably happen, but will it be sustainable? Time will tell. People need to be convinced that the true value of a book is more than they currently think based on the physical copy paradigm. The value of a digital file is less tangible, and people in general don't understand how much work actually goes into creative endeavors.
Could an author get by selling a novel for $1 per copy? $2? Will the public at large be content to pay $15 for an ebook? The market will decide this, but my bet is that prices will end up closer to $1 for a book than $15.