[HarryT]

Originally Posted by nekokami

HarryT, even if one is willing to download files for paper books one already owns, that doesn't mean one doesn't also buy new ebooks. The nice thing about books is that authors keep writing new ones. I for one am more than happy to keep buying new books I haven't yet read.

I agree with you 100%! However, with respect, the fact that one buys new books does not make it "OK" to also download "dodgy" ones, does it?

I don't quite have the confidence that Mobi will be there forever to keep re-registering new devices as old ones may break, though. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to display and read HTML and RTF forever, and I'd really rather pay for my books in those formats, or a format I can convert to those formats.

Exactly what I said in another thread only yesterday: PRC/LRF, etc, for reading formats, but HTML, RTF, or even text, if nothing else is available, for long-term archival. It's only DRM'd stuff I choose to buy in Mobi format - given a choice, I always download, for example, Baen books in RTF or HTML.

The balance point needs to be in a different place. The enforcement needs to be focused on people who actually are breaking the law (e.g. file uploaders), not people who have merely bought a product and want to use it normally.

Yes, you're right, of course - it's uploaders who are the criminals. I see absolutely nothing wrong with doing format conversions of stuff you've bought, regardless of what some silly law might say about it.

One thing which does slightly puzzle me, however: if you believe it's OK to download eBooks of books you've already bought as paper books, but think that uploaders should be prosecuted for the criminal scum they are, where are you going to download these eBooks of yours from?

As for paying again for content I already own in another form, I know we disagree on this, but there may be a compromise point there, too, e.g. some kind of discount for those who provide some evidence that they own a paper copy. I really can't afford to pay even current Baen prices for every book I already own just to be able to access them while my books are still in the basement. But I could gradually replace my books for say, half-Baen-price, if they were all available legally in an open format.

That's the argument I don't "get", I'm afraid. If I have a favourite paperback which I read again and again, I know that sooner or later it's going to fall to pieces and I'm going to have to buy a new copy. I don't expect the publisher to give me a discount simply because I've bought it previously. Likewise I don't see any reason why having bought a paper copy of a book should somehow entitle me to a free - or even discounted - copy of the eBook. But we've been through all this before - let's just agree that we differ on that point .