Massive wave of ebook piracy?

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Originally Posted by John F

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Post #284 -- seems about right.

[thrawn_aj]

Originally Posted by kennyc

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...

I prefer this one . [Warning: some nsfw language in the slashdot thread I linked to if you're bothered by that kind of stuff - the link goes directly to the comment. The punchline drove me nuts ]

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by ManosHandsOfFate

Post #284 -- seems about right.

I like Post #285 better.

@thrawn_aj - ROTFLMAO!

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I concur with your comparison. I laugh to myself as I read the dire statements that pirating an ebook is akin to stealing a car, walking into a home and robbing it, shoplifting, etc.

I, too, have wondered if all those who are lamenting about "piracy" have never driven above the speed limit, have never fudged on their tax returns, have never run a red light, have never bought something that "fell off a truck", have never not returned incorrect change given to them by a cashier, have never made up an excuse as to why their homework or their work wasn't done on time, have never lied about anything in their lives, have never taken advantage of a situation for their own benefit, never taped a movie from the TV onto VHS when we were still being told by the Motion Picture Association that it was illegal to do so, never taped songs onto a cassette from the radio or a record when they were younger, etc.

As far as I'm concerned, only a person who's never done ANY of those things in their lives is the only one who can cast any aspersions on anyone who gets their reading material from alternative sources.

One point that I think is being constantly over-simplified is that "piracy" is an either/or proposition. That someone either gets all of their movies, music, books via alternative sources or that they get none of them that way. That is simply not true. Just because one gets items that way doesn't mean that books, CD's and DVD's aren't still being purchased, too - by those same people. Of course there are going to be people who will never pay for anything; they are the same people who were always going to do things on the cheap their entire lives anyway - that's just their mentality.

But speaking for myself, just because I can get any book that I want via alternative sources doesn't mean that I have stopped buying books; on the contrary, I still buy books so that my favorite authors keep producing them. But I'm not going to look with horror at people who get the majority of their books via alternative means. To me they are the same as people who only read books via the public library system; both groups are not adding any money to the authors' pockets. Just as I personally don't see the difference between downloading an ebook to try out a new author, and parking my butt in Borders or B&N for hours just to read the same book without paying for it.

The only difference is two of the methods of reading a book are socially acceptable forms of "piracy" while the other method isn't.

That is essentially the same as saying that only non-sinners can go to Church. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when younger. That doesn't mean they can't grow up and stop making those mistakes. Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. It doesn't matter whether it's a book or an automobile; if you take something that isn't yours, it shows disrespect for the rights of others and concern only for yourself. Just because the person calling you on breaking the law isn't perfect doesn't exonerate you from doing the same.

I swear you are such a stitch! I will admit you have taken rationalization for lawbreaking in a direction that I haven't seen here yet.

[eGeezer]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

But if she doesn't have her ereader, what will she use? Or are you assuming that everybody should have multiple ereaders? And what about children? When I was young I read the books that my brothers also read. Even if I had a book that was "mine" since I got it for my birthday, it wouldn't mean that I was the only one who got to read it. Are parents supposed to buy one copy of the book for each child, or just have only one child?
I've had friends stay over and read some of my books. Should I think about having an ereader for guests in the near future?

All they need to do is the same concept nook has pioneered. (Although "pioneering" implies it will still be around in a few years). When you loan a book, it becomes unreadable on the initiating device either for a period of time, or simply until it is "returned", perhaps with an option to "give" the book permanently, in which case it is automatically deleted from the originating device.

Yeah, I know. "All" they have to do is easy to say. Dunno how it would actually work.

As for trading readers, its not quite the same as trading or loaning a pbook. If the friend loses the pbook or drops it in the toilet you are only out the pbook price, not the price of the reader.

While it is nice that Amazon and the ilk allow multiple users on an account, it doesn't address our ability to give the books to someone outside your close circle of 6 friends/family.

While purchasing an ebook "on loan" for $3-$5 seems counter to our feeling of "ownership" for our books, for the most part, I end up donating the books after the bookcases get full, anyway, so it's a concept worth consideration.

On the other hand, by having the books on a shelf, I can remind myself whether I have read it before when they are re-issued with a new cover and I'm wondering if it is an old book by that author that I missed.

As for loaning books to friends, they wouldn't have to have a reader, just reader software.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by John F

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Your point being...? It still fits.

[Krystian Galaj]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

That is essentially the same as saying that only non-sinners can go to Church. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when younger. That doesn't mean they can't grow up and stop making those mistakes. Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. It doesn't matter whether it's a book or an automobile; if you take something that isn't yours, it shows disrespect for the rights of others and concern only for yourself. Just because the person calling you on breaking the law isn't perfect doesn't exonerate you from doing the same.

Why do you prefer to roll on the floor, laughing from what you consider people's mistakes to pointing out what you think they are? It might start an actual discussion....

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Krystian Galaj

Why do you prefer to roll on the floor, laughing from what you consider people's mistakes to pointing out what you think they are? It might start an actual discussion....

I do point out what they are and people keep coming up with the same nonsense. After a while, it's just funny.

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I like Post #285 better.

@thrawn_aj - ROTFLMAO!

Well, what I meant was that it seems about right that it was post #284, as opposed to an earlier post, that generated the Nazi talk. It usually takes a long thread before Nazi's come up.

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I do point out what they are and people keep coming up with the same nonsense. After a while, it's just funny.

But are you really laughing? Really?

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I still buy books so that my favorite authors keep producing them.

I agree. But what about dead authors? Do you buy their books even though they don't care, they won't be writing any more?

[tubemonkey]

Time for a new thread

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I agree. But what about dead authors? Do you buy their books even though they don't care, they won't be writing any more?

Well then you're into the whole inherited copyright debate - which is a new can of worms altogether.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Time for a new thread

Amen brother... This one has hit the bottom of the rat hole.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by ManosHandsOfFate

But are you really laughing? Really?

No. I just think the little laughing guy is so cute, I like posting him every chance I get.









(For those who missed it, that was sarcasm.)