kobo for sale - the right thing?

[djloewen]

Originally Posted by 46jimbo

We should be able to do exactly the same as what we do with the physical paper book. That means that I can lend it to you, give it to my mother or sell it in a garage sale. But only one time. And I should also delete my copy of the book.

Is this ethical?

Since it's not a physical book, why "should" any such thing be true? Just because you can't simultaneously loan someone a physical book and still have it at home, why "should" you delete your digital copy if you give/lend it to someone else?

I said I wouldn't get into it, but I'll just get into it a little tiny bit. Trying to apply existing copyright laws to digital items is absurd. The laws need to be rewritten completely, from scratch, with only two basic purposes (the same purposes that fueled the first copyright act in England in the 1700s):

-To ensure that artists are compensated fairly for their art such that they are motivated to continue creating
-To prevent unscrupulous third parties from profiting from the artist's work without his/her authorization

That's it. That doesn't necessarily mean a 1:1 ratio of consumption to payment. It doesn't necessarily mean you can't make your own (free digital) copies and spread them around. Any system (or set of laws) that can provide the two necessary points above can be considered, but beyond that, the fewer limitations the better.

If we can fairly compensate artists, and prevent commercial piracy, while still embracing the vast number of benefits that come with DRM-free, shareable, copyable, transferrable files, why should we deny the consumer such conveniences?

Before flaming me, please note the "if" at the beginning of that sentence. If it can't be done, it can't be done. I personally think it can, but I won't get into why or how, I'm sure there are loads of threads out there that cover the issue from both sides. But everyone should agree with the above "if/then" statement. If you don't, please feel free to elaborate.

[mamasue]

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

Wow, that was quick. I reported the listing at 7am, it's now 7:40am and the listing for the kobo has been removed from Trademe. Here's what they said:

The Trade Me Customer Support Team have reviewed the listing and has deemed that it is in breach of our terms and conditions. As a result the listing has been removed from the site.

Thank you for bringing this listing to our attention and making Trade Me a better place to buy and sell.

Well done Trademe for taking this seriously.

good for you kiwipippa!!

and good for Trademe ... I wonder if that "other" selling site would be as quick to follow up???

[Ghoda]

Originally Posted by ltr

Completely agree. Illegal file sharing has already ruined the music industry, I sure wouldn't want authors to throw in the towel because they can't make a buck on their books. There has to be a way to curb illegal distribution on-line that doesn't make it annoying for those who pay.

ltr

I just want to throw in my $0.02 here: Illegal file sharing revolutionized rather than ruined the music industry. You can now get the music you want at a very reasonable price without having to haul your butt across town to a store. Record companies have continued to post profits that are the same as they were before (and while) 'illegal file sharing' was an issue. A new method of distribution has come about and those that adapted or innovated thrive.

I have jumped on the ebook wagon for the same reason: ebooks are generally much cheaper and more convenient to acquire; cheaper because there is no physical book that needs to be printed/bound/transported. I don't have to wait for the bookstore to get enough copies in anymore, I can get it when I want it. If I find an ebook that hasn't met the lowered price estimation (read: ebook costs near the same as the dead-tree book) I usually send a polite email to the publisher of that ebook stating why I didn't purchase it. The publishing industry will eventually get the message just as the music industry did.

[sabredog]

This sort of to and fro rock throwing exercise crops up with predictable regularity within the News and General Discussion forums on Mobileread.

Always, the thread participants form into two groups that exchange salvos which are often quite pointed and harshly worded in order to get their particular leanings/beliefs/soapbox subject/anst across.

It is really not appropriate that within the Kobo forum there is need for this sort of carrying on.

So everyone take a deep breath and move on as the issue with the Kobo on sale was resolved.

[3d0g]

Originally Posted by Ghoda

I just want to throw in my $0.02 here: Illegal file sharing revolutionized rather than ruined the music industry. You can now get the music you want at a very reasonable price without having to haul your butt across town to a store. Record companies have continued to post profits that are the same as they were before (and while) 'illegal file sharing' was an issue. A new method of distribution has come about and those that adapted or innovated thrive.

We're off-topic, but a little research will prove otherwise. Music industry revenue is down dramatically over the last decade. Some industry giants like Tower are no more. Now whether it's a result of filesharing, lower margins on digital media, or the music has just been crap is an entirely valid debate.

[KoboNo]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

We're off-topic, but a little research will prove otherwise. Music industry revenue is down dramatically over the last decade. Some industry giants like Tower are no more. Now whether it's a result of filesharing, lower margins on digital media, or the music has just been crap is an entirely valid debate.

Are you sure about that? Care to provide a source? There is this new thing the kids call iTunes. The folks that run it make a buck or two per day.

[3d0g]

Originally Posted by KoboNo

Are you sure about that? Care to provide a source? There is this new thing the kids call iTunes. The folks that run it make a buck or two per day.

http://tinyurl.com/5v8j7h9

[dmacmart]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

http://tinyurl.com/5v8j7h9

OK that was funny. Perhaps uncalled for, but funny!

[baronrus]

I partially agree...It was funny....

[ltr]

Yep, good one 3d0g. More effective than saying, "Google is your friend"...

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by KoboNo

This brings up another question. If your friend gives you a book that he has paid for and you share the same licence, would you still accept it or would you go and buy your own copy? I certainly would not buy another copy unless I absolutely needed it. There is the absolutely right thing to do and then there's the real world thing to do.

I asked this in another thread---I have a unique situation in that I gave my mother a Kobo which is registered to my account. She is reluctant to buy her own books, so I buy the books (on my Kobo account) and load them for her with my computer, onto the Kobo which is technically still registered to me but is 100% in her possession at her separate house. I have other devices which run the Kobo app and I could theoretically download these same books to these devices as well, and then both she and I could read them at the same time while only paying once. I have not yet done this because I am not particularly interested in the three books she specifically asked me to buy, but she certainly had read some of MY books...

The response I got from everyone on the thread was that this is perfectly legit. Kobo says I can use six devices. I am paying for the books I load onto the devices. While she has the physical Kobo, I am without it so it is just like loaning a paper book. I have not broken any rules and this is perfectly fair use. Fwiw if I sold the Kobo, I would first remove the books. But for my mother, I don't care about personal stuff of mine being on there. And when she has asked me to buy a book specially for her, it has not been one I was interested in anyway

[baronrus]

I think that is fine. My wife, daughter and I all have kobo's. My wife and daughter are in a mother daughter book club where they have to read the same book each month. we buy one copy and put it on each of their readers. Really no different than buying one book except they dont have to wait for one or the other to finish before they start to read.

[KoboNo]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

http://tinyurl.com/5v8j7h9