Quote:
Originally Posted by rogue_librarian
Ah, but nobody suggested that, far as I can see. Also, you artfully dodged the question on "[h]ow precisely [to] enforce scarcity economics on a non-scarce product".
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I answered this many times -- mostly by educating people to respect other people's rights and to support those that bring them the books they read. Sure, there are technical possibilities to stop illegal copying, but most are "big brother" methods like IP snooping that are incompatible with free societies. On the other hand, of course, strict law enforcement measures against known uploaders of protected works and illegal websites are fine. And if education doesn't work then we are just looking at one of two possibilities (no, a real "free for all" is not in the cards, someone always pays!):
1.)A "creators' surcharge on internet access, just as everybody already pays a surcharge on all storage media in Europe (the proceeds are being distributed to the media companies by a government agency).
2.)Ad-supported books. Imagine the joy of having a full page ad on every second page of your ebook! If you have the ipad they will probably have a small video which can't be stopped every few pages, even more effective.
When we really sit down and look reality in the face, then some might actually wake up and say "hey, I would rather decide who I support by paying directly". And by paying directly you can actually support those you deem "worthy". Not for the other two models. So, if we just throw up our hands and say "we can't stop the tide", we will sign over everything to Apple, Google, etc.
Well, I will learn to live with it, but I will keep speaking up now, while there still is time. Maybe I am just a crazy idealist who stands up for other people's rights.