Problems with the EBook Industry

ccccclark · 01-11-2009, 05:29 PM

I have just recently bought my first EBook reader, so I am new to this, but here is what I am seeing are the problems with the industry. It is not the DRM per se or the price, but the serious gaps in the catalog of available books.

For example, Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, much of Dylan Thomas and several more recent history books I have an interest in are not available, not even on Amazon for the Kindle.

In my opinion, the industry is really losing out. I realize they cannot release everything at once, but I am not citing obscure works.

I have gone completely paperless for my reading material except for magazines, graphic novels and illustrated books (such as art). So if i am unable to find book A in EBook format, then I will be purchasing B. I will not be buying A in paper format. I just don't have the storage space for paper copies anymore.

I understand the possible concern with piracy, but it really is inevitable anyway, just like the music industry. I don't have an issue with paying for EBooks, just like music and there will always be a lot of honest people willing to do so (Apple ITunes).

Just look at now. Dylan Thomas' poems are under copyright, yet they can easily be found online. I would purchase his poetry despite this if it were available.

DaleDe · 01-11-2009, 06:37 PM

Yet another thread. The one thing you mentioned that is fresh is the out of date publications that are no longer in print but are still copyrighted. This is a big problem. Part of the problem is accessing ongoing demand to recreate the works in electronic form and an additional problem of getting the rights to publish an eBook. Generally the contracts are very specific and do not include eBook rights. In addition many of the people who wrote those books are dead although the copyright is still in force and there is no way to get permission or the people you would get permission from do not understand the issues.

Dale

RobbieClarken · 01-11-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccccclark

I understand the possible concern with piracy, but it really is inevitable anyway, just like the music industry. I don't have an issue with paying for EBooks, just like music and there will always be a lot of honest people willing to do so (Apple ITunes).

At least for the books you mentioned, piracy isn't a good excuse because there are already versions being shared online. It astounds me that Lord of the Rings isn't available through Amazon or Sony because I imagine it would sell extremely well.

pwalker8 · 01-11-2009, 07:15 PM

I believe that in order for a copyright to be in force, someone has to hold the copyrights. Copyrights is a civil matter, not a criminal, so someone has to actively enforce the copyright. If no one holds it, you can publish with no problem. Of course, sometimes figuring out who owns the copyrights can be an issue. That's why there is a proposal for identifying and allow the use of orphaned works, i.e. works with no identifiable copyright owner.

The LOTR's copyright is owned by Tolkien's children, who are rather active in protecting it since it's still in print and making quite a bit of money for them. I think that Richard Adams who wrote Watership downs is still alive.

pwalker8 · 01-11-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epiphany

At least for the books you mentioned, piracy isn't a good excuse because there are already versions being shared online. It astounds me that Lord of the Rings isn't available through Amazon or Sony because I imagine it would sell extremely well.

Yep. Rowling's books are the same way. The last Harry Potter book actually appeared online before it was available in the stores. Perhaps ebooks just aren't on the radar screen in Great Britian.

crucify · 01-11-2009, 10:37 PM

You could buy a paper book, throw it away, and then download a pirated e-version.

FizzyWater · 01-11-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crucify

You could buy a paper book, throw it away, and then download a pirated e-version.

Not even getting into the "illegal" vs. "moral" debate, this makes the publishers' opinion about ebooks a self-fulfilling prophesy. "See, people are buying the paperbacks, they must not really want digital..."

crucify · 01-11-2009, 11:28 PM

This is complicated and debatable. Just like in the PC game industry, somebody buys a legal copy and then use a no-cd crack.
Oh the IP laws, I have a headache just by thinking about it.

Alisa · 01-12-2009, 01:27 PM

I've read before that Rowling and Tolkein's heirs are very against ebooks. It's a shame because, as we have all seen, there are digital versions of the books regardless of whether they want it or not. They're just not profiting from them.

astra · 01-13-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

I've read before that Rowling and Tolkein's heirs are very against ebooks. It's a shame because, as we have all seen, there are digital versions of the books regardless of whether they want it or not. They're just not profiting from them.

True.

01-11-2009, 05:29 PM	#1
ccccclark Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: None	Problems with the EBook Industry I have just recently bought my first EBook reader, so I am new to this, but here is what I am seeing are the problems with the industry. It is not the DRM per se or the price, but the serious gaps in the catalog of available books. For example, Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, much of Dylan Thomas and several more recent history books I have an interest in are not available, not even on Amazon for the Kindle. In my opinion, the industry is really losing out. I realize they cannot release everything at once, but I am not citing obscure works. I have gone completely paperless for my reading material except for magazines, graphic novels and illustrated books (such as art). So if i am unable to find book A in EBook format, then I will be purchasing B. I will not be buying A in paper format. I just don't have the storage space for paper copies anymore. I understand the possible concern with piracy, but it really is inevitable anyway, just like the music industry. I don't have an issue with paying for EBooks, just like music and there will always be a lot of honest people willing to do so (Apple ITunes). Just look at now. Dylan Thomas' poems are under copyright, yet they can easily be found online. I would purchase his poetry despite this if it were available.

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01-11-2009, 06:37 PM	#2
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Yet another thread. The one thing you mentioned that is fresh is the out of date publications that are no longer in print but are still copyrighted. This is a big problem. Part of the problem is accessing ongoing demand to recreate the works in electronic form and an additional problem of getting the rights to publish an eBook. Generally the contracts are very specific and do not include eBook rights. In addition many of the people who wrote those books are dead although the copyright is still in force and there is no way to get permission or the people you would get permission from do not understand the issues. Dale

01-11-2009, 07:15 PM	#4
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I believe that in order for a copyright to be in force, someone has to hold the copyrights. Copyrights is a civil matter, not a criminal, so someone has to actively enforce the copyright. If no one holds it, you can publish with no problem. Of course, sometimes figuring out who owns the copyrights can be an issue. That's why there is a proposal for identifying and allow the use of orphaned works, i.e. works with no identifiable copyright owner. The LOTR's copyright is owned by Tolkien's children, who are rather active in protecting it since it's still in print and making quite a bit of money for them. I think that Richard Adams who wrote Watership downs is still alive.

01-11-2009, 10:37 PM	#6
crucify Member Posts: 13 Karma: 86 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Shanghai, China Device: hanlin v3	You could buy a paper book, throw it away, and then download a pirated e-version.

01-11-2009, 11:28 PM	#8
crucify Member Posts: 13 Karma: 86 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Shanghai, China Device: hanlin v3	This is complicated and debatable. Just like in the PC game industry, somebody buys a legal copy and then use a no-cd crack. Oh the IP laws, I have a headache just by thinking about it.

01-12-2009, 01:27 PM	#9
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I've read before that Rowling and Tolkein's heirs are very against ebooks. It's a shame because, as we have all seen, there are digital versions of the books regardless of whether they want it or not. They're just not profiting from them.

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