Quote:
Originally Posted by Tricorp
There are so many posts on this thread that compare books to music, but I really don't think that is an apt comparison. They are different in every way and just because many people stole music, does not mean they will steal ebooks. I honestly believe that the vast majority of ebook users will never pirate a book and it really is not a problem.
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I agree with you to some extent. But the similarity is that of a product that used to be physical now being available digitally. Copying a digital product is effortless and free, and people will breach copyright to get free content for whatever reason justifies it to them.
The biggest problem publishers face is their own stupidity. They need to embrace their paying, honest customers and ignore the piracy. The pirates will always find an excuse to not pay, and nothing the publishers do will solve that fundamental side-effect of the digital age.
The publishers should put their effort into keeping their industry relevant in a time when they are not really necessary. Treat customers well. Make digital prices reasonable, remove DRM and geographic restrictions.
The problem is also on both sides. Publishers want to reap the benefits of digital distribution while keeping prices the same and pocketing extra profits. Consumers want dirt cheap prices for infinitely copyable digital media. There needs to be a sweet spot.
I recently got a Kindle, and I like the fact that many books are under $15 (Australian dollars that is). I think that's a nice price considering that most new paperbacks are around $20 - $35 in the shops. But the Kindle DRM prevents me from buying lots of books, and many books aren't available to me simply because of my geographic location.
Publishers are terrifed of the ( mostly imaginary) harm that new technology can do to their profits and oblivious to the benefits it can give to their business. There will be a changing of the guard soon, but in the meanwhile we have to deal with an industry that is resisting the inevitible move into the 21st century.