[PKFFW]

Originally Posted by Fanas

1. Symbolic price of 1$ would be a nice addition for the authors. As long as no one takes a cut of that. Because now, possibly up to 80% of your money doesn't go to the author, but rather to some middle-men.

That's assuming the author wants to do all the work of editing, proofing, formatting, marketing etc etc etc involved in the book.

If they don't want to do all that, or can't, then they would have to pay others to do it.(generally speaking).

Further, if they do it all themselves it is very very likely their work will actually receive less of an audience because they are necessarily less skilled at all of that, particularly the marketing side of things. This lesser audience will very likely result in less money. That's life I suppose but it does make the whole "If I pay a pittance but it all goes to the author he/she will actually make more money" argument seem a little less valid.

Originally Posted by Fanas

2. If it was 1$, or even up to 3$, the price would be so low that piracy would almost completely disappear. Why bother looking for books, downloading from some garbage-level sources, if the real deal is so cheap. Anyone with a e-book reader could afford to purchase books. Obviously readers will become cheaper with time too.

I agree that if prices were lower there would likely be less piracy. If prices were $0 there would be even less piracy still! So what?

I'm all for reasonably priced ebooks. What I am against is the idea that all books must be made available in ebook form for $0 or some "symbolic" price.

Originally Posted by Fanas

3. There are still book collectors. Paper book is not only a nice interior element, but it also got style. Smell alone elevates a fresh book above e-book. So paper book would still keep it's price and possibly even become more valuable.

That's really got nothing to do with ebooks and the discussion at hand.

Originally Posted by Fanas

4. Friendly advice to publishers. Instead of trying to criminalize people, try adapting. Many people pirate because of money shortage, but there is also another reason. Movies/games/music/books, you name it everything is easier to access via illegal sources. If I wanted to purchase a movie, first problem I would encounter would be various geographical issues. Then of course shipping would cost extra money and time. After that I would obviously need to buy bluray player, because I got used to HDTV so much I could not possibly consider watching DVD quality movies. While I can do that with my laptop and 10$ costing hdmi cable, I wouldn't be able to watch it from bluray disk. When all those problems arise it's not hard to understand that money isn't the only reason people pirate.

I agree publishers should adapt. However, with attitudes like yours and the OP's as evidenced here, it is little wonder to me that they do not appear to be willing to do so.

Cheers,
PKFFW