Is piracy truly killing publishing?

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

That would depend on whether it was one of your favourite writers or not. If it was just something that looked interesting you would most likely buy something else instead, but if it was something by one of your favourites you would look at other ways of acquiring it.

I don't know about other people, but with me, when something I'm casually interested in is denied to me or very hard to find, it suddenly becomes much more interesting as forbidden fruit, and I put some real effort into finding it.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by sabredog

I believe that is where the majority of "casual" piracy is coming from. It is exceedingly frustrating trying to buy an ebook that is denied to you because you reside in the wrong country.

Originally Posted by GA Russell

My hunch, without factual basis, is that the pirates wouldn't have bought the books anyway.

I guess that I was only thinking of my own American circumstances, and failing to consider those of others such as Australians. Sorry!

I'd be curious to see figures for geographically restricted countries. I'm skeptical of the idea that the geo-restricteds outnumber the interested-without-enough-money.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I'd be curious to see figures for geographically restricted countries. I'm skeptical of the idea that the geo-restricteds outnumber the interested-without-enough-money.

I don't necessarily think the geo-restriction downloads outnumber the "it's free so I'm taking it" downloads--but the geo-restricted people are potential customers, and the others aren't.

There is something just whacked about publishers' approach of "I don't care if those people want to buy our books; our hands are tied by contracts, so those people should just read something else. I hear there's a lot of public domain ebooks available." No wonder publishing is having problems staying afloat... they're telling would-be customers to go away, it's too complicated to figure out how to take your money.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Yeah, they probably would have gone to the library.

That's the thing about books - the whole concept of reading for free (not counting taxes that support the library anyway) has been built into society since well, whenever public libraries started. Which would be what, 18th century?

The 1st lending library date I found was in 1586 though I imagine it was limited to those who could read well such as clergy men etc. And here in the U.S. Ben Franklin was responsible for the 1st public library. I couldn't find the actual date though.

[ApK]

Speaking libraries, I was watching the 'Columbo' episode "Try and Catch Me" last night, and he tells the famous mystery novelist "My wife is a great fan of yours. As soon as one of your new books comes out, she's first in line to put her name in at the library."

With only the slightest hint of hesitation before "...at the library," it got a laugh from me.

[Lemurion]

Books do not equal people: there is no connection between the proportion of the population that admits to piracy and the return rate for books.

Personally, I think the publishers most likely to thrive are going to be those best able to turn book production into revenue - however they end up doing it. Whether it be by increasing sales or by decreasing losses, those who can structure their business to remain furthest in the black are the ones who are going to win out in the end.