How do you write a book in lrx format

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by p3aul

I am not a troll. I have read every one of your arguments and they are full of obvious flaws. I consider them invalid. You forget that I'm not the one writing the book. But if I were than I would certainly want copy protection. If you were writing books you would think so too. Or are you just an idealist? You can't argue with success and so far copy protection has been very successful. I too like open source. I admire those who write programs like Kovid who wrote Calibre, but unlike you, it wouldn't disappoint me or make me angry if he started charging for it. I would just pay him and thank him again for writing such a good program.

I agree with you about paying for things. I'd just pay for Calibre too.

But on the "you can't argue with success" front, well... You are the one who is arguing with success. The fiction publisher with the best results in eBooks is the one I mentioned in my previous post: Baen. They've used ebooks to raise sales of their paper books, AND as a new revenue source that brings in significant income. All without DRM. For over 10 years. Don't just take my word for it: Go check out the facts. An earlier poster gave you the link, but either you didn't read it, or you didn't believe what you read.

Here's some background for what follows: I'm 47. I work in the software industry, so my livelihood depends on copyright and patents. I believe in IP in general (although I disagree with some details of our current system). Finally, every single ebook, every piece of software, and every piece of music on any of my family's computers is 100% legit. No pirate copies anywhere. I emphasize all this so you understand that I'm not arguing from a viewpoint of "I wanna steal the content" or "Information wanna be fwee!"

I will never purchase DRM-d content, unless I can easily strip the DRM! I've had too many bad experiences with copy-protection and DRM in the past. Remember, I'm a paying customer -- no pirate copies at all!

Just a few of the bad experiences:

• Licensed software where the company went out of business. When I upgraded to a new machine, there was NO WAY to authorize the software on the new computer.
• I owned an REB-1100 ebook reader. I purchased quite a few eBooks to read on it. Then two things happened. First, the makers of the reader shut down operations. All my DRMd content could no longer be authorized with a new reader. Secondly, Sony came out with the PRS-500 and I bought one. And I couldn't move my eLibrary to the new device! Note: All the authors and copyright owners already had their money -- I paid for all the books. I just can't use them any more. That seems to me to be the equivalent of telling me that I can't move my library from my old house to my new one -- I must purchase new books instead.
• I bought eBooks from Amazon back when. Amazon left the eBook business, stranding my paid-for content. Once again, there's a bunch of legitimate content that I can no longer use through no fault of my own!

I will not permit this to happen again. Any content I purchase will be DRM-free so that I may format-shift as I please.

And lest you think that format-shifting is wrong, the courts have clearly identified both format-shifting and time-shifting as practices that fall within traditional fair-use. It's both legally and ethically permitted.

So, your wife, as a content creator, is perfectly free to set whatever contractual terms she likes with her publisher. And the publisher is perfectly free to impose DRM if they like. That's all hunky-dory. And I'm free to refuse to purchase anything with DRM -- or to strip said DRM for personal use only (which is arguably legal even with the DMCA; legal experts disagree and the courts haven't ruled yet).

But, with all due respect, I think that if you investigate the experience of publishers like Baen (specifically, the posts here and here contain hard data, but all the essays in the series found here are worth your time. As are the ones here. All available free.), or booksellers like Fictionwise ("Multi-format [e.g. DRM-free] titles outsell DRM titles 3-1 or better.").

Xenophon

[Bilbo1967]

I think (hope) that p3aul has crawled back under his bridge now.

I've watched this thread with interest - jeez, I thought I was obtuse but that guy took the biscuit.

Anyway, it was fun watching the battle of wits - even though p3aul was obviously an unarmed opponent.

[Elfwreck]

There's no reason to be insulting. P3aul is not an idiot... just someone who thinks people will steal rather than pay, given the opportunity.

Which makes me wonder if he spends his weekends downloading software & music from the torrent networks, since he thinks it's so obvious that everyone will do this if they have the chance.

He apparently doesn't understand that most people would rather pay what something is worth, much less the more complex issues of pirated digital copies working as advertising, either to promote physical sales or to create author recognition that will inspire future ebook sales.

But failing to see customers as basically honest is not a new premise, and holding it doesn't make him stupid. It just means he believes propaganda and fear tactics more than actual evidence. Since the evidence takes real study to make sense of--it's a niche industry and there's a lot of weird variables involved--that's understandable.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

There's no reason to be insulting. P3aul is not an idiot... just someone who thinks people will steal rather than pay, given the opportunity.

Nice of you to stick up for the cerebrally challenged, but let's look at the evidence.

Originally Posted by p3aul

Before most of you were born, probably, J.R.R. Tolkien had a blurb in his books that said" This publisher, only, has the write to print these books in America.

The man doesn't know the difference betweem 'write' and 'right'. Still sure he's not an idiot?

Originally Posted by p3aul

Well, I guess your minds made up so I'll stop trying to confuse you with the facts. As I said before, your conclusion about DRMless books being good for the publisher is just mindset, it's not logical. Your concept is like me buying a hardback book; reading it, then taking it back to the dealer and saying "Here is this hHardback book. I'm not giving it back to you but, because I've bought it, now I want the paperback version for free.
Can't you understand *that* bit of logic?

How anybody can read this asinine and invalid simile and not come to the conclusion that p3aul is an idiot is beyond me!

Originally Posted by p3aul

...Having only an elementary school education...Paul

No s**t!?!

The man is clearly incapable of conducting a reasoned discussion for the simple reason that it is beyond his limited intellectual capacity.

I sincerely hope he has left this forum and moved on to a forum more suited to him.

[p3aul]

Bilbo1967, hmmm seems you are guilty of libel. That's a prosecutable offense. If I had the money for a lawyer I could clearly sue because the evidence is right here. I never called anyone by name anything, just made a general observation. Bilbo, I pity you really. I'm also sorry this has degenerated into a name calling slugfest. I do have a right to an opinion as well as you. As I stated in a previous post, I care about who I am, not what anybody thinks of me. I also stand by what I stated in my last post. Just because a handful of malcontent posters believe that people are not entitled to copy-protect what they write and sing doesn't mean the whole world thinks that. The years and years of solid success from the entertainment industry proves that it is *they* who are on the right track.

[p3aul]

Does anyone know how to report a violation of the terms of use on this forum?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by p3aul

Bilbo1967, hmmm seems you are guilty of libel. That's a prosecutable offense. If I had the money for a lawyer I could clearly sue because the evidence is right here. I never called anyone by name anything, just made a general observation. Bilbo, I pity you really. I'm also sorry this has degenerated into a name calling slugfest. I do have a right to an opinion as well as you. As I stated in a previous post, I care about who I am, not what anybody thinks of me. I also stand by what I stated in my last post. Just because a handful of malcontent posters believe that people are not entitled to copy-protect what they write and sing doesn't mean the whole world thinks that. The years and years of solid success from the entertainment industry proves that it is *they* who are on the right track.

Oh please - sue me. Your ignorance of libel laws is as vast as your ignorance of pretty much everything else as far as I can see.

Can I suggest that you carry out your threat to find a more suitable forum (perhaps one for under-10 year olds?) and only venture back here when you gain the necessary intellect to attempt to understand grown-up discussions.

I for one will not be responding to you again - you are a waste of time.

[p3aul]

Is that a promise?

[deltop]

Next to the Karma button there is a "Report post button".

Although I don't agree with p3aul the name calling is not what I've come to expect from this forum.

[DixieGal]

And then there are authors like Moejoe (PJ Lyons) who give it away and has refused on several occasions to accept money for his books. Everything is free and open, available in many non-DRM formats at Feedbooks.

I want to give him something to say "thanks" for the pleasure his stories provide me, but instead, he refuses because he is enjoying creating his stories too much.

Truly a class act!

However, if I wanted a Harry Potter book (Yuck - I don't), I wouldn't hesitate to find a pirate copy, simply because she has made it clear that she is not interested in selling her books to ebook device users. Very tacky, leaves a bad smell in my nose regarding anything connected to her.

[Nate the great]

@bilbo1967

He does have a point. Your post added nothing to the discussion. It did nothing more than insult him. Please stop.

nate the great
-moderator

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by p3aul

I also stand by what I stated in my last post. Just because a handful of malcontent posters believe that people are not entitled to copy-protect what they write and sing doesn't mean the whole world thinks that.

I don't think, having just read through it, that anyone suggested you didn't have the right to add DRM to any ebooks you produce. Several people even pointed you to ways to do just that.

What has been suggested to you is that

* DRM only inconveniences your paying customers(1)
* DRM on ebooks is easily removed anyway(2)
* DRM does not prevent pirates copying your books(3)
* There are commercial publishers and full time authors making a living who release their books in DRM-free formats(4)

And so if you want to sell as many copies as possible, you'd be better off without the DRM.

You have ignored these points entirely, and implied that anyone who disagrees with you only does so because they want free content.

I am astonished at the restraint of the other Mobileread members. It shows what a good message board this is that the worst insult you've been given is to be called an idiot by one member.


References:
(1) Self evident. Do you really need a reference for this? If it didn't inconvenience customers, no-one would object to it.
(2) MobiDeDRM, Inept, eReader2html, Convert Lit
(3) Apart from removing DRM from eBooks, there are people who will scan and ocr paper books. If someone wants to illegally copy your book, DRM won't stop them, and nor will not having an ebook at all. And, given the ease with which digital files can be copied, it only needs one person to do it.
(4) Baen Books. http://www.baen.com/ Currently publishing around 70 books a year, all books also available in DRM-free ebook formats, and have been for the past 10 years. Pan Macmillan. Now selling DRM-free ePUB books at their uk web site.

[mjh215]

I'll stay out of this 'discussion' save to reiterate that those people looking into DRM should read Eric Flint's essays on the topic. As well as visit the EFF's section on DRM.

-MJ

[Peto]

Originally Posted by p3aul

Everyone has a right to an opinion. But I would like for someone to comment on this simile. >>Your concept is like me buying a hardback book; reading it, then taking it back to the dealer and saying "Here is this hardback book. I'm not giving it back to you but, because I've bought it, now I want the paperback version for free.<<

Then I'll shut up. Any takers?

Well, I definitely find I am being overcharged when, having bought the hardcover, I am asked for the same amount for the paperback as if I had not. I have already paid for the copyrighted material. Now I should have to pay just for the hardware. Suppose it is just the hardback. It breaks. I buy another. Why do I have to pay for the intellectual property again? I already did. Charge me for the hardware. So I wouldn't ask the paperback for free as you say but I would definitely expect some sort of price reduction. That is not wide expected because it has never been done, not because it is not fair. That is how it should be.

Suppose you are buying a nice ring for your wife. You find a little box you like in the same shop and buy it too. The jeweler puts the ring in the nice cute box and gives it to you.You pay for both, leave the shop, drop the box and break it. Feeling pretty bad, you go back in and ask for another box. The man kindly takes your ring, puts it in the new box and charges you for both again. How would you like that? Well, it happens all the time with copyrighted material and I see no writers (or musicians for that case) screaming outrage when their customers are abused.

On the other hand, it is coming to be that digital books, immaterial properties that are sold automatically by computers, are nearly as expensive, sometimes just as expensive and in some cases more expensive than a paper book I can buy at the bookshop, which has to be printed by somebody, distributed by some other, sold by a third, etc. This really makes me feel someone out there thinks I am dumb. That is his mistake.

As I see it, it is a free market so I have two choices: Not to buy or be abused to a point. That being so, can't feel very sympathetic to writers, they have the same choices: Not to publish or be abused to a point.

As for DRM, you should know it is an illusion. Doesn't work, doesn't protect doesn't deter. There is only one person affected by DRM: THE BUYER.

[Riocaz]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

@bilbo1967

He does have a point. Your post added nothing to the discussion. It did nothing more than insult him. Please stop.

nate the great
-moderator

In all fairness Nate, P3aul hasn't "added" anything to the discussion since starting it.

He's utterly failed to state the "facts" he keeps going on about and has ignored the actual facts he has been directed too.

He's also made assertion that anyone who is against DRM wants to steal content. Which might not be namecalling directly but is insulting nonetheless. If you are going to censure Bilbo for his rather blunt assertion I would like to formally request you do the same to p3aul.