Harper Lee battling in court for copyright

[GeorgeH]

Missed it.

[Jessica Lares]

I think this should be in the news section too. It's not "general discussion".

According to all the information I'm finding, he was indeed taking advantage of his father-in-law. He acted as a agency, but he WASN'T an agency. He didn't take any submissions, he just took over some of the clients.

He was one of the plaintiffs trying to get Steinbeck's novels out of Penguin Group's hands according to the additional research I did. He was probably going to con them into signing the same waive of rights for all we know.

Perhaps Harper Lee should have had her sister Alice review the contract for her before signing? As of this time last year Alice Lee was still a practicing attorney.

Seriously though I hate to see an older person like Harper Lee take advantage of. I hope she will prevail in her lawsuit.

I am also always puzzled by those who think that they have a right to any book in ebook format, even if against the wishes of the author. I prefer ebooks, but do not think I have the right to demand that the author approve release of their book in that format. Especially with all the pirating going on.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I am also always puzzled by those who think that they have a right to any book in ebook format, even if against the wishes of the author. I prefer ebooks, but do not think I have the right to demand that the author approve release of their book in that format.

You might not know that ebook availability is an access issue for many people with disabilities, not just a slight preference or a convenience matter. Now that it's relatively trivial to create/release an ebook, for a person or company with the resources to do so to deliberately withhold a readily accessible format is not defensible.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by meeera

You might not know that ebook availability is an access issue for many people with disabilities, not just a slight preference or a convenience matter. Now that it's relatively trivial to create/release an ebook, for a person or company with the resources to do so to deliberately withhold a readily accessible format is not defensible.

Especially older people like Lee herself.
Plus, business-wise, it's 25% of the total market and more of the backlist market.
If she wants her book widely read, it needs to be on ebook.

Originally Posted by meeera

You might not know that ebook availability is an access issue for many people with disabilities, not just a slight preference or a convenience matter. Now that it's relatively trivial to create/release an ebook, for a person or company with the resources to do so to deliberately withhold a readily accessible format is not defensible.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Especially older people like Lee herself.
Plus, business-wise, it's 25% of the total market and more of the backlist market.
If she wants her book widely read, it needs to be on ebook.

Perhaps I am missing something, but I don't see how an ebook adds much for people with disabilities over and above what a large print paper book (available) or audio book (available) already provide.

Yes, it may not be a wise choice on her part to miss out on sales of ebook version that would not otherwise occur in other formats. That is her choice though. That and I don't think Lee need worry about her book not being read.

Perk up though yea who have been waiting for an ebook before reading this great book. Shortly before Ray Bradbury died he relented on that issue and many of his books are now available as ebooks. That and once Harper Lee dies whomever copyright is transferred to may allow ebooks to be sold.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

Perhaps I am missing something, but I don't see how an ebook adds much for people with disabilities over and above what a large print paper book (available) or audio book (available) already provide.

Yes, it may not be a wise choice on her part to miss out on sales of ebook version that would not otherwise occur in other formats. That is her choice though. That and I don't think Lee need worry about her book not being read.

Perk up though yea who have been waiting for an ebook before reading this great book. Shortly before Ray Bradbury died he relented on that issue and many of his books are now available as ebooks. That and once Harper Lee dies whomever copyright is transferred to may allow ebooks to be sold.

Yep.



.

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

Perhaps I am missing something, but I don't see how an ebook adds much for people with disabilities over and above what a large print paper book (available) or audio book (available) already provide.

Yes, it may not be a wise choice on her part to miss out on sales of ebook version that would not otherwise occur in other formats. That is her choice though. That and I don't think Lee need worry about her book not being read.

Spoken like someone who does not have any disabilities, I think?

Large-print books are larger and heavier than regular hardbacks or paperbacks. Larger size and more weight are concerns for those who have gripping problems. One font size does not fit all; sometimes the font in a large-type book is either too large or not large enough.

An ereader can be a godsend to those whose physical body and eyes are no longer in optimal condition because it allows precise customization to provide the most comfortable reading experience.

By not allowing ebook versions, authors are saying to a segment of their potential customer base that they are neither relevant nor necessary. To those authors I would say, if you don't need me then I don't need you, and when someone ultimately scans and uploads your book, I'll feel no sympathy when you cry publicly about it.

You'd think that Harper Lee would have learned from her own experience when she realized that she didn't understand the papers she had signed - perhaps because she couldn't read them well?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Large-print books are larger and heavier than regular hardbacks or paperbacks. Larger size and more weight are concerns for those who have gripping problems.

And often, the same people with eyesight issues have strength and gripping issues (arthritis). My mother has both. She holds her kindle on her lap and touches lightly to page. She reads 6-10 hours a day.

(I offered her a KDX but she said it was too heavy.)

For the record, 13% of the US is over 60, adding up to 50 million.
http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm
Ignore them at your peril.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

And often, the same people with eyesight issues have strength and gripping issues (arthritis). My mother has both. She holds her kindle on her lap and touches lightly to page. She reads 6-10 hours a day.

(I offered her a KDX but she said it was too heavy.)

For the record, 13% of the US is over 60, adding up to 50 million.
http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm
Ignore them at your peril.

And if one particular book is unavailable, there are plenty of others. There is no obligation by an author to make their books available globally and to anyone who wants them.

[curtw]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Especially older people like Lee herself.
Plus, business-wise, it's 25% of the total market and more of the backlist market.
If she wants her book widely read, it needs to be on ebook.

I'm guessing that your location of "26 kly from Sgr A*" is not in the USA. I can't imagine a book that's more widely read in this country (unless it's The Grapes of Wrath). It's assigned reading in just about 95% of the High School American Literature courses. And very few public school systems in the US are offering e-readers.

[mrscoach]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

And often, the same people with eyesight issues have strength and gripping issues (arthritis). My mother has both. She holds her kindle on her lap and touches lightly to page. She reads 6-10 hours a day.

(I offered her a KDX but she said it was too heavy.)

For the record, 13% of the US is over 60, adding up to 50 million.
http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm
Ignore them at your peril.

I am so laughing at myself. I read the address in the link and wondered if there are THAT many transgendered senior citizens out there.

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

And if one particular book is unavailable, there are plenty of others.

That's basically saying that if you can't get a copy of "To Kill A Mockingbird" in ebook format, you might as well just buy "Mona Lisa Awakening" by Sunny.

There is no obligation by an author to make their books available globally and to anyone who wants them.

Then what is the point of publishing what you write, if you don't want to allow others to read it?

[Catlady]

I have to agree that it just seems baffling that an author would not want his or her books made available via new technology. Of course the author has no obligation to publish in any form; the author can just write for personal pleasure and never let anyone read. But once the words are out there, why should the author care about the package they're in?

Unless there's some sort of negotiating ploy, I just don't see the point of an author wanting to limit access this way.

[kennyc]

catlady, I don't see it either personally, but all I'm saying is that an author has no obligation whatsoever to provide their work in any specific format, and certainly not in order to provide access to a specific subgroup as was being argued by Xanthe and meeera.