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Originally Posted by Moejoe
Steve Jordan's books are widely torrented, I've seen Verdant Skies in at least two different sci-fi torrent compilations over the last week or so. If that was my own work I'd be excited as hell that I was being recognised, not bummed about phantom lost sales. Those torrents have at least a couple hundred seeders and a thousand peers at any one time. That's a lot of people who might go on to read (and pay for) Steve's work afterwards.
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Steve's books would likely be just as widely available on torrents even if he used as much DRM as currently available. When you consider the best form of eBook DRM is not to release an eBook (no DRM to strip) and that those books (Harry Potter for example) are still actively pirated in electronic form, it doesn't say a lot for the success of DRM.
If I were an author I wouldn't be excited to see my books torrented, but I do agree that I also wouldn't see it as a lost sale. However, I would make an attempt to have the torrent taken down or the website remove my books.
Releasing without DRM at least allows your legitimate customers the freedom to read your books on any of their devices. Customers that may otherwise have no bought your books and WOULD have been a lost sale.
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And in any case, lose money, make money, at least Steve doesn't have to kiss the ass of an industry that is as pointless in the digital realm as a monkey at a giraffe-only tea party. 
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I've often wondered why well known authors don't sell eBooks directly from their own on-line site. There is still a need for publishers in the print world, but other than marketting is there really such a need online? Ideally authors would sign contracts that allowed publishing ebooks on their own sites whilst still also distributing them in various on-line stores. Best of both worlds, hardcore fans may buy direct giving the author a higher income, whilst stores will help get the book under the eyes of new customers.
All I can think is that many print authors had their ebook rights tied up as part of their print contracts? Any authors on here able to give us some insight into this?