EBook Piracy & The Indie

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Randolphlalonde

I'd like to open this topic with a simple principle demonstrated on a balance.

Positive: Piracy implies popularity and can lead to greater popularization.
Negative: For Indies, piracy really does equate a lost opportunity in revenue.

So, what I'm looking for in this topic are your thoughts on the balance posted above, other points about EBook piracy.

I did notice several months back that Michael McCollum posted a plea on his web site for unauthorised copies of his self published ebooks that were available online on filesharing sites to be withdrawn.

His books are multi format, DRM free and only $6, reflecting Baen's pricing and distribution model.

Truly, there is no justification whatsoever for any reader to pirate an ebook copy of an independent author. In the main the books are competitively priced (even free), Geo unrestricted, DRM free and available in multiformat.

I understand a frustrated reader prevented by GR looking at filesharing options to obtain a book published by big publishing companies (I will hold my hand up on that score) but NEVER understand not supporting an indie author by not buying the ebook.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by sabredog

NEVER understand not supporting an indie author by not buying the ebook.

You think they know, when they download a big pack of books, who wrote them? You think they care to differentiate between publishers?

What one publisher does reflects on all. This is a lesson I've learned time and again by listening to the darknet communities.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

If you want to be successful, worry about improving the value that you provide to your customers. "Pirates" are not your customers, so don't waste time/effort worrying about them.

From your mouth has come forth great wisdom.... karma to you!

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

You think they know, when they download a big pack of books, who wrote them? You think they care to differentiate between publishers?

What one publisher does reflects on all. This is a lesson I've learned time and again by listening to the darknet communities.

I do agree with you. However that will not change how I feel, as outlined in my earlier post.

As discussed continuously, the publishing companies will need to evolve.

[alvico]

Originally Posted by Randolphlalonde

Libraries purchase one or more copies or, perhaps in the future of eBooks, the rights to them. Those copies are loaned out and after a time, they're taken back. If the work is good enough, a certain number of people (the percentage should be available from some publisher who did a study, I'm sure), buy them for their favorites shelf. I know a lot of people who actually still go to a library and, to my surprise, they all have a favorites shelf and it's pretty well stocked.

I hope that, when digital library subscriptions are commonplace world wide, the same system or a donation system takes the place of the favorites shelf. I suppose time will tell.

In Australia, authors earn royalties from books loaned out by libraries: Public Lending Right

I believe the UK has a similiar systen.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Again, in a perfect world, all backlist titles would be rapidly digitized and marketed by the publishers - for a reasonable price. Too bad the publishers refuse to work towards making this a 'perfect world'.

It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to do either, just hire a bunch of students in the summer to do it.

[wigm]

Granted, piracy is a big issue, but you have to also allow for the people that pirate things just to say that they have them and never intend to use them. A lot of people download things just because they are there and because they might be popular.

I work network security and had to do some research for blocking p2p sites for a client and I found at a particular site that Playboy was downloaded ~11k times. That is a lot but when compared to the most downloaded item it is very low, the most downloaded item was at ~250k and that was a movie.
For actual books the most downloaded was Harry Potter at ~4k. That's using a sample site so I know it won't represent the thousands of sites out there.

I love reading, if the book is worth it I will pay, specially if it's a new author, that is the only way to encourage new talent. All the big authors are growing stale, read the first and last chapter, fill in the middle with "their" formula and that's it.

[alvico]

Originally Posted by sabredog

I did notice several months back that Michael McCollum posted a plea on his web site for unauthorised copies of his self published ebooks that were available online on filesharing sites to be withdrawn.

His books are multi format, DRM free and only $6, reflecting Baen's pricing and distribution model.

Truly, there is no justification whatsoever for any reader to pirate an ebook copy of an independent author. In the main the books are competitively priced (even free), Geo unrestricted, DRM free and available in multiformat.

I understand a frustrated reader prevented by GR looking at filesharing options to obtain a book published by big publishing companies (I will hold my hand up on that score) but NEVER understand not supporting an indie author by not buying the ebook.

Thanks for supporting indie authors.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Randolphlalonde

Libraries purchase one or more copies or, perhaps in the future of eBooks, the rights to them. Those copies are loaned out and after a time, they're taken back. If the work is good enough, a certain number of people (the percentage should be available from some publisher who did a study, I'm sure), buy them for their favorites shelf. I know a lot of people who actually still go to a library and, to my surprise, they all have a favorites shelf and it's pretty well stocked.

Also, of course, in many countries, authors get paid (directly paid, the money doesn't go to publishers) when their books are borrowed from libraries, via the "public lending right". Not a vast amount, but a useful amount if you are a popular author.