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Originally Posted by Dumas
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?
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That exactly what I was saying, for an unknown author who cannot yet expect anyone to buy his books since they have never heard of him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dumas
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?
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Correct, in the first case no damages are involved. In the second case, the situation is different. And I have always maintained that it is to the copyright holder alone to decide if the files can be legally distributed by the darknet. In my example the author would be happy to have files downloaded as often as possible, since he can hope to profit from it by being able to make money on future books.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dumas
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?
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I have always maintained that a majority of users are honest and are willing to buy rather than download from the darknet. I have also never subscribed to the formula "one download = one lost booksale". You are putting words in my mouth. Most darknet users are downloading "just because they can" and would never buy the book in question, anyway. It still is wrong, but there are no real damages. Just some warped ethics. But when people who are usually paying for books make up excuses to go to the darknet, that is when the system begins to unravel. And some people here argue that NOBODY should EVER AGAIN pay for any download.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dumas
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.
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That is understandable and noble. But authors have to eat, too. They have bills to pay. Of course, if an author feels he is rich enough and wants to give everything away for free, fine. It should be entirely up to him or her, that is all I am saying.