Regional restrictions now in the UK - Page 9

kennyc · 10-01-2009, 04:24 PM

So if I pretend I'm someone else's ebook and make a copy of myself.....

(sorry, couldn't help myself...)

Blue Tyson · 10-02-2009, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomesque

Interestly, most of the opposition I've seen to loosening Australia's import restrictions on foreign-printed books has come from Australian authors... GAH. I think they're nuts, personally

Yep. Most of them will be permanently dooming themselves to lower sales if they get their way, fencing themselves in, banana republic style.

Tuna · 10-02-2009, 05:07 AM

We're in a transition period, basically.

I'd say the publishing industry is roughly where the games industry was ten years ago with regards to things like regional restrictions. For now a lot of it really doesn't make sense, but consumer pressure and evolution of the legal framework will (hopefully) iron out the gross inconsistencies.

If you buy an ebook reader right now, you're in the same position as if you bought a laser disc player in the early nineties. You might have backed the right horse, but you're not going to know for a couple of years. At least in the short term, you have to accept that you can't just pop to your local convenience store and buy new content. There's no point getting upset by it - you made the choice to spend your money on 'emerging technology'.

In that respect, if the book you wish to buy isn't available electronically, you still have the option of buying the physical version. It's almost certainly cheaper anyway. If that is annoying and frustrating, write and tell the people involved. Eventually they will get the message.

I wonder if authors could choose to sell the physical book rights separately from electronic book rights? That way they could sell to publishers in Europe and the US for 'local' physical book sales, and sell electronic rights to one or more 'Global publishers' (Amazon, Sony... there's room here for some interesting developments). Global publishers can fight it out amongst themselves over gaining the customer's attention. Already Amazon and Sony are setting out their stores on those lines, so it's a fairly logical progression. Once e-readers have got sufficient penetration for authors to threaten to sell only electronically, the pressure on physical publishers to accept such deals will be quite strong.

As ever, the next eighteen months or so will be 'interesting times' (as in the ancient Chinese curse)

wallflower75 · 10-02-2009, 08:28 AM

To return to the topic at hand...

So I purchased a 15-pound gift voucher from WHSmith, sent it to a "friend," registered the friend with a "UK address," attempted to purchase two ebooks...and was unable to do so. Tried under a UK proxy server and couldn't even use the voucher. So basically I've wasted...what, about 25 bucks? I should've just gone with five, but there were two books I wanted and I was hoping this would work. So much for that.

bminata · 10-02-2009, 10:05 AM

Ditto that.. if Amazon and other vendors won't sell due to "geographical restriction" there's always bittorrent..

And don't bother blaming us. It's not us who don't want to do business :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Regional restrictions wouldn't be so bad if ebooks would be available everywhere. And publishers still find it strange that people will go to the darknet to find a book, because they can't buy it anywhere, even though it is available in ebook format...

DawnFalcon · 10-02-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

I wonder if authors could choose to sell the physical book rights separately from electronic book rights?

Yes, they're generally considered a seperate right and in many cases are negociated for seperately.

And I'd be happy with recomending any ereaders which supported ePuB. It's a /standard/, and widely supported one.

kennyc · 10-02-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bminata

Ditto that.. if Amazon and other vendors won't sell due to "geographical restriction" there's always bittorrent..

And don't bother blaming us. It's not us who don't want to do business :P

ah, but that doesn't make it legal or ethical now does it?

bminata · 10-02-2009, 11:32 AM

No, it doesn't.. at certain point I just don't care. I tried Amazon, B&N, Fictionwise, Diesel, others.. even tried proxy servers.. got that same "geographical restriction" every time.

It's up to the publishers, authors, lawyers and other players in this ebook business to sort up this mess. We as customers only want to buy books so please somehow make a system for us to do this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

ah, but that doesn't make it legal or ethical now does it?

wallflower75 · 10-02-2009, 11:41 AM

Are there any other UK ebook stores outside of Waterstones and WHSmith?

kennyc · 10-02-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bminata

No, it doesn't.. at certain point I just don't care. I tried Amazon, B&N, Fictionwise, Diesel, others.. even tried proxy servers.. got that same "geographical restriction" every time.

It's up to the publishers, authors, lawyers and other players in this ebook business to sort up this mess. We as customers only want to buy books so please somehow make a system for us to do this.

I sympathize and understand and agree that this needs to be worked out -- geographic restrictions need to go away (just like DRM - with the possible exception of Library check-outs). I was just stating my thoughts on the legality and ethics of the dark side.

Hellmark · 10-02-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallflower75

Are there any other UK ebook stores outside of Waterstones and WHSmith?

Borders has a popular UK branch. Not sure how it is related to the US one.

HarryT · 10-02-2009, 12:37 PM

I don't think they sell eBooks, though.

Tuna · 10-02-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bminata

No, it doesn't.. at certain point I just don't care. I tried Amazon, B&N, Fictionwise, Diesel, others.. even tried proxy servers.. got that same "geographical restriction" every time.

It's up to the publishers, authors, lawyers and other players in this ebook business to sort up this mess. We as customers only want to buy books so please somehow make a system for us to do this.

Can I just point out again that such a system exists? It's called buying the physical book. I've heard Amazon are quite good.

If the book you wanted to buy was only available in hardback when you wanted it as paperback, what would your solution be then?

Crowl · 10-02-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think they sell eBooks, though.

Borders does sell ebooks, its even one of the linked sites in the ebook library for the sony reader now.

bminata · 10-03-2009, 04:23 AM

True enough.. although it's impractical. That's the whole point of ebooks, isn't it? And the shipping fee to certain parts of the world can be too prohibitive - not to mention customs.

I used to order printed books from Amazon for like USD 400 per order, USD 150 shipping fee, USD 50 custom. And that's not FedEx or overnight services but snail mail by sea.

Local bookstores have very limited selection at ridiculously high prices. USD 25 for a paperback anyone?

That's why I had high hopes when ebooks came out.. until I hit this dreaded "geographical restriction." :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

Can I just point out again that such a system exists? It's called buying the physical book. I've heard Amazon are quite good.

If the book you wanted to buy was only available in hardback when you wanted it as paperback, what would your solution be then?

10-02-2009, 08:28 AM	#124
wallflower75 Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 223852 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Device: Kindle Voyage/iPhone 6 Plus/iPad mini	To return to the topic at hand... So I purchased a 15-pound gift voucher from WHSmith, sent it to a "friend," registered the friend with a "UK address," attempted to purchase two ebooks...and was unable to do so. Tried under a UK proxy server and couldn't even use the voucher. So basically I've wasted...what, about 25 bucks? I should've just gone with five, but there were two books I wanted and I was hoping this would work. So much for that. Last edited by wallflower75; 10-02-2009 at 10:02 AM.

10-02-2009, 11:41 AM	#129
wallflower75 Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 223852 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Device: Kindle Voyage/iPhone 6 Plus/iPad mini	Are there any other UK ebook stores outside of Waterstones and WHSmith? Last edited by wallflower75; 10-02-2009 at 11:45 AM. Reason: changed a word

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10-01-2009, 04:24 PM	#121
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,907 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	So if I pretend I'm someone else's ebook and make a copy of myself..... (sorry, couldn't help myself...)

10-02-2009, 05:07 AM	#123
Tuna Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 325 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Cool-ER	We're in a transition period, basically. I'd say the publishing industry is roughly where the games industry was ten years ago with regards to things like regional restrictions. For now a lot of it really doesn't make sense, but consumer pressure and evolution of the legal framework will (hopefully) iron out the gross inconsistencies. If you buy an ebook reader right now, you're in the same position as if you bought a laser disc player in the early nineties. You might have backed the right horse, but you're not going to know for a couple of years. At least in the short term, you have to accept that you can't just pop to your local convenience store and buy new content. There's no point getting upset by it - you made the choice to spend your money on 'emerging technology'. In that respect, if the book you wish to buy isn't available electronically, you still have the option of buying the physical version. It's almost certainly cheaper anyway. If that is annoying and frustrating, write and tell the people involved. Eventually they will get the message. I wonder if authors could choose to sell the physical book rights separately from electronic book rights? That way they could sell to publishers in Europe and the US for 'local' physical book sales, and sell electronic rights to one or more 'Global publishers' (Amazon, Sony... there's room here for some interesting developments). Global publishers can fight it out amongst themselves over gaining the customer's attention. Already Amazon and Sony are setting out their stores on those lines, so it's a fairly logical progression. Once e-readers have got sufficient penetration for authors to threaten to sell only electronically, the pressure on physical publishers to accept such deals will be quite strong. As ever, the next eighteen months or so will be 'interesting times' (as in the ancient Chinese curse)

10-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#132
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I don't think they sell eBooks, though.