How are geographic restrictions affecting you?

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Your annoyance is a little misdirected. Sony and Apple - yes, they have georestricted sites - but Amazon do not. Anyone can buy eBooks from Amazon.com; if there are georestrictions on Amazon books they are specified by the supplier of the book, not by Amazon.

The ultimate blame has to be assigned to authors for signing country-specific distribution contracts, rather than assigning world-wide rights to a single publisher. If a publisher only has distribution rights for a specific country or region, then they cannot legally sell outside that.

I wasn't blaming the retailers for the geo restrictions, my intent was to point out that they don't have a strong motivation to fix it. It's not the fault of a single party and I really don't care whose fault it is. It's something that can be easily fixed in future contracts but it takes recognition that it is a problem and can't continue.

[GeoffC]

is not the strongest motivation - money ?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Some authors will - those that can manage to make sales to more than one area.

Those that can't obviously make less.

My point was that having one contract per region will lead to more money for the author compared to one world wide contract. That is the reason for why they do not sign world wide contracts.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by sabredog

I would though, like to add something here.

Many of the ebooks I had previously been able to purchase became geo restricted AFTER the agency 5 rorts started.

Now this would seemingly indicate that even new contracts have geo restrictions built into them. It would certainly appear then that the publishing companies (agency 5) simply do not want to alter their distribution model.

You could be right, but I think some of the problem is the books might have been Geo'd before, but because of the methods these stores have had to alter their software so they can collect sales tax for the Agency 5 cartel it's just making it harder/impossible to get around the geo restrictions now.

[WhenAllElseFails]

Can anyone tell me where I might find information on circumventing the DRM issue? Also can you tell me how to convert Kindle books to epub format?

I've come to accept that living in Australia means I am extremely limited in my access to printed reading material... I hadn't really thought about the mechanism that caused it other than cost factors, your info about contracts makes so much more understandable tho still frustrating.

[sabredog]

For removing DRM, Google is your friend. DRM removal methods are not the best thing to discuss on Mobileread.

Converting ebooks is a simple matter in the main using the free and superb Calibre, of which there is a dedicated mobileread forum.

[Vzzzbx]

Hi. I'm new here. I don't carry an agenda, I'm just furious about geographic restrictions.

I can buy many books right now from any local bookshop, and I'm well within my legal rights to order any book from Amazon US or US (and they will happily sell it to me), but I can't buy the equivalent ebook from a web shop here or abroad. It's patently ridiculous.

What the publishers fail to grasp, just as the music, film and tevision industries are still failing to grasp, is this: when consumers are locked out of something, especially on a basis this arbitrary and stupid, many of those consumers find ways to circumvent those restrictions, and in doing so they develop habits. These companies have had, and still have, opportunities to establish consumers' habits early by giving them free and open access to the content they sell. Instead, they go well out of their way to make things as difficult as possible for consumers who just want to buy an album, or a movie, or a book, and use it in a way that suits them.

Publishers and agents will find themselves contending with this problem for many years. It's a problem purely of their own making, and it could be very easily avoided if they simply got their act together. (Yes, I realise there are multiple levels of complexity, but as a consumer I don't want to hear excuses.)

In reference to ShellShock's post earlier in this thread, the only possible argument in favour of geographic restrictions -- and even then it's not a reasonable argument -- is localisation. I don't want to read a book by a British author with American spelling and localisation, for example. However, all that requires is a notification in the metadata of the book listing on whatever online shop is selling it, not completely locking a region out of buying it.

[HansTWN]

As frustrating as those geo restrictions are for us who are affected, we are a rather small group and the matter is much more complicated than it seems. Let us say a European "officially" buys at Amazon US. Amazon US would have to set up a VAT collection system just for that. And Australian and New Zealand distributors would all be gone within weeks since their net probably is higher than selling prices in the US. Everybody would naturally drift towards the big sellers. Nobody would promote books in other countries. Would you invest to distribute books in Australia if you knew everybody could just download them from the US at cheaper prices?

It makes no sense to compare physical books to ebooks. Sure you can buy a physical book in the US if it is more expensive in Australia. But you would pay more for postage than the price difference is and pay import tax, if applicable. So small shipments of physical books are no threat to smaller distributors' higher prices and distribution rights.

So, be glad that there are workarounds and don't count on this nuisance disappearing soon. The only times they could easily lift those restrictions is for residents of countries where those books are not being distributed in English.

[Vzzzbx]

Yes, but paying customers don't care about any of that. They will find other means, just as they've done with music and television.

At some point in the neat future, some publishing giant will go around suing people who illegitimately download ebooks. Those people wouldn't have had to learn how to do it that way if a legitimate mechanism were provided right now.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Vzzzbx

Yes, but paying customers don't care about any of that. They will find other means, just as they've done with music and television.

At some point in the neat future, some publishing giant will go around suing people who illegitimately download ebooks. Those people wouldn't have had to learn how to do it that way if a legitimate mechanism were provided right now.

You think they would learn from the music and entertainment industry mindless meanderings PRIOR to going down that path. Maybe even create a distribution model that leads the way. Baen like!

More than likely though, they will continue to emulate an Ostrich, burying their head in the sand and ignoring all around them.

[Vzzzbx]

It's weird, isn't it?

The annoying thing is that actual people are waving around actual money. I can't imagine walking into a sandwich bar to be told they won't sell me a sandwich because I'm too short.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Vzzzbx

In reference to ShellShock's post earlier in this thread, the only possible argument in favour of geographic restrictions -- and even then it's not a reasonable argument -- is localisation. I don't want to read a book by a British author with American spelling and localisation, for example. However, all that requires is a notification in the metadata of the book listing on whatever online shop is selling it, not completely locking a region out of buying it.

I particularly enjoy an SF series by an Australian author, based in Sydney. Now this author publishes his books through Random house.

The ebook versions of his books are currently geo restricted and cannot be purchased by an Australian buyer.

Crazy, stupid and frustrating system.

[Vzzzbx]

I don't know which author you're talking about, but I've found plenty who are in the same situation. I'd put money on most of them being just as frustrated as we are (and they're readers/customers, too).

[karenr_nz]

SabreDog, I have exactly the same problem - latest books by two aussie fantasy authors that are geo-restricted to UK/US. Madness.

To explain geo-restrictions to non e-book readers I use this analogy ...

I walk into a bookstore in NYC, and go to purchase a book. The conversation with the shop assistant goes:
SA - 'can I see some ID to prove that you are a US resident?'
Me - 'sorry, I'm a NZer, not a US resident.
SA - 'I'm sorry, in that case, I can't sell you that book - it's only for sale to US residents.'
Me - 'but this book isn't even available in NZ - it's not like I'm ripping off some NZ bookseller'
SA - 'That's the rules.'

On walking out of the shop a passerby says 'psst - here's a copy of the book for free'. Me - 'wow! Thanks heaps'. Darknet strikes again ....

[sabredog]

A number of authors I have spoken to via email are actually unaware until you tell them.