[Acreo Aeneas]

Originally Posted by kjk

1) This will kill the eBook market? (Through piracy, lack of sales)

I think the industry's use (not just book industry but any industry) of "piracy is super evil" is completely overblown. To some extent companies exert this phrase to forcibly bully consumers into paying more for their products since their last fiscal year's millions in earnings weren't enough.

2) That this will unacceptably slow the adoption of eBooks to the general public?

I don't think this will really impact the adoption of eBooks since so far Tor/Macmillan has been the only publisher trying to strong arm a retailer into a much higher price without any good justification other than sheer profits.

3) That your least favorite company/publisher/conglomerate in the world might "win" or "lose"? Even though no one really knows what a "win" or "loss" is in this context?

You know what? There are a number of large webstores out there that carry ebooks. Amazon isn't the only one, however they may claim to be the "top dog". The informed, conscious, and smart consumer will know to search out other webstores to shop at. If one of the bigger guys fall, the little ones below quickly adapt and learn from their mistakes. One advantage of a competitive market.

4) That the general public will yawn, and continue to buy Kindles, Nooks, iPads, or whatever, and pay whatever prices end up being set?

This is probably my only fear: that most consumers won't bother to fight for their own rights. You can take a look at the battles between "pirates" and the "music industry". Have you heard the everyday consumer taking up the banner and pitching in to fight for their own rights to ownership of music they buy? Nope, it's mainly been the two extreme ends fighting. Look at politics, we as citizens are losing our rights and most people just throw it away or are completely ignorant of how new laws can affect them now and in the future.

Personally? I just feel crappy for the authors...because this whole controversy really shows how low on the totem pole they are in the current scheme of things. But I'm betting on #4.

I agree. Authors and consumers seem to be non-existent entities to these companies. The day where we literally wake up and realize what is really happening, I fear, is the day where we can no longer fight. To a degree: 1984.