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GhostHawk · 02-20-2010, 09:31 AM

You want an honest answer Kazbates, I'll give you one.

If I go to the nearest convenience store, and steal a candy bar, the candy bar is gone.

If on the other hand, I am smart enough, savvy enough, determined enough to go out and find an ebook that I want to read, and download it. The ebook is still out there. I have taken nothing. You can not lose what you never had. So the publisher did not lose a sale. The author did not lose royalty's. And I didn't lose any sleep over it.

To look at it another way.
Project Gutenberg has an abundance of books in their collection.
Granted different country's view copyright differently. Have different laws depending on location. So its ok to download books from "this" web site, because the author died 60 years ago. And his "right" to control those ideas is gone.
But its "Not" ok to download books from another web site, because that author is still alive, or just died?

I've bought some Dick Francis Hardcovers in my day, he's gotten what he's going to get from me. He's got I am sure a very impressive place in the Cayman Islands.

I'm freezing my butt off in Fargo ND, eating pasta because its all we can afford, but I'm supposed to send him money (or his son) Because I want to reread his books in Ebook format? The !#@$ you say.

I'm not taking something from anyone, that they have. The worst you can say, is that they are losing sales/royalty's. Which in my case is really not true. Not in my current situation. So why should I care?

After all there are ohhh so many of you folks who wouldn't DREAM of doing what I do who will be glad to pay their royaltys. So those authors really are not starving for the most part.

Now, am I advocating that you all turn pirate, absolutely not.
Am I advocating that perhaps copyright law is due for a total makeover. You betcha.
And until they make copyright law fair and "reasonable" and ebook prices "Reasonable" do I feel "empowered" to do all in my power to encourage that change. Yep.

And no I don't feel like its stealing. Because you can't lose what you never had.

Now, turn the coin over. Do you see me pirating books from Baen Authors.
Very very seldom, because they are the one publisher already giving me a fair shake.
I find one now and then slipped into some collection. But I don't go looking for them.

So if I did come into money, and was going to buy books who would I buy?
Hint, ain't going to be Tor.

02-20-2010, 09:31 AM	#166
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	You want an honest answer Kazbates, I'll give you one. If I go to the nearest convenience store, and steal a candy bar, the candy bar is gone. If on the other hand, I am smart enough, savvy enough, determined enough to go out and find an ebook that I want to read, and download it. The ebook is still out there. I have taken nothing. You can not lose what you never had. So the publisher did not lose a sale. The author did not lose royalty's. And I didn't lose any sleep over it. To look at it another way. Project Gutenberg has an abundance of books in their collection. Granted different country's view copyright differently. Have different laws depending on location. So its ok to download books from "this" web site, because the author died 60 years ago. And his "right" to control those ideas is gone. But its "Not" ok to download books from another web site, because that author is still alive, or just died? I've bought some Dick Francis Hardcovers in my day, he's gotten what he's going to get from me. He's got I am sure a very impressive place in the Cayman Islands. I'm freezing my butt off in Fargo ND, eating pasta because its all we can afford, but I'm supposed to send him money (or his son) Because I want to reread his books in Ebook format? The !#@$ you say. I'm not taking something from anyone, that they have. The worst you can say, is that they are losing sales/royalty's. Which in my case is really not true. Not in my current situation. So why should I care? After all there are ohhh so many of you folks who wouldn't DREAM of doing what I do who will be glad to pay their royaltys. So those authors really are not starving for the most part. Now, am I advocating that you all turn pirate, absolutely not. Am I advocating that perhaps copyright law is due for a total makeover. You betcha. And until they make copyright law fair and "reasonable" and ebook prices "Reasonable" do I feel "empowered" to do all in my power to encourage that change. Yep. And no I don't feel like its stealing. Because you can't lose what you never had. Now, turn the coin over. Do you see me pirating books from Baen Authors. Very very seldom, because they are the one publisher already giving me a fair shake. I find one now and then slipped into some collection. But I don't go looking for them. So if I did come into money, and was going to buy books who would I buy? Hint, ain't going to be Tor.