Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
What happens if your readers get a virus? Are you liable, since you received money?
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Looks like you have enumerated one reason "to buy" from the author rather than seek an infringing work. I'm not really sure about readers getting a virus, but it could be possible depending on the ebook format. I think the greater reason for seeking a work from an authorized source would be that it is complete and correctly formatted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
I agree, pirate sites COULD make great advertisements. But only for unknown, struggling artists. Then again, usually pirate sites will not carry the most obscure authors, but rather those that are selling quite well.
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This is an interesting assertion. You suggest that infringement ("Piracy") is a good method for promoting unknown/obscure (unread/unheard) authors/artists. Since the authors/artists are unread/unheard, does it seem to you that their potential economic loss is negligible and therefore infringement is good?
You claim that infringing sites don't carry obscure/unread/unheard works, but rather those that are popular and that are already selling quite well. Since the authors/artists are popular and already selling quite well, does it seem to you that their potential economic loss is greater and therefore infringement is bad?
How can popular authors/artists possibly be selling well in the face of massive, online infringement? Who are these people that are buying what they could have for "free"? What are they buying?
Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
But it does make sense to give your early works away for free, to build up a readership, a reputation.
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If it makes sense for an author to give away their early works for "free", then why doesn't it make sense for them to give away all their works in digital form for "free" as some authors already do?
In conclusion, I think a better word instead of readership/reputation for what authors really seek is a
relationship with their readers. Authors that are able to develop this don't have just readers, but ardent fans and a promotional base for past and future works.