What's the point of Geographic restrictions from a publisher's perspective?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Iqy

The solution is for writers to employ a good editor, then edit edit edit until their book is as perfect as it will ever be, then self publish on an ebook site that is DRM free, global, and writer friendly, not controlled by publishers.

The problem at the moment, however, is that virtually no independent authors do employ an editor, and it generally takes an editor to make a book "readable". The result is that the vast majority of independent books are currently of a very poor quality.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by RobbieClarken

I think the fact is that most authors* don't care at all about things like geographic restrictions and DRM. I can understand why: authors* just want their royalty check and don't want anything to do with the publishing side of things (at least I wouldn't if I were an author). They rationally assume (and I think they are right) that publishers will usually maximise profit and this benefits authors - unfortunately, it can come at the expense of some consumers (especially when publishers lobby for regulations to restrict competition).

* Talking in general - as always there are exceptions and authors that contribute to MobileRead are likely to be amongst them.

I think you are half right. I think most authors do not care about DRM and leave that decision to publishers; however, in the case of geographical restrictions, authors do care. Few authors are willing to simply give a publisher worldwide rights.

When rights are negotiated, they are negotiated for both print and electronic, not each separately. I doubt there is any mid tier or top tier publisher today who would be willing to take local print rights and no electronic rights and there are few authors who want to give that small U.K. publisher worldwide rights to both print ebooks -- each hopes to be the next JK Rowling and can realize that dream only by limiting geo rights. When their book becomes a UK phenomenon, they can auction off rights to various countries instead of being bound to the small local publisher.

Geo restrictions are a problem that will not disappear until the ebook market becomes both larger and more mature. As the publishing/sales volume tips from print to ebook, geo restrictions will also decline, but not until then. As with any creator, most authors want to maximize their chances to make money off their work, which means print not ebooks and publishing with a mid to top tier publisher.

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

I agree with you, but can't help thinking of all those people who work for publishers, distributors, book sellers etc, who will also be out of a job. They're just trying to earn a living like the rest of us! It can be a hard world out there...

But this life. They have to adapt their business model or get new jobs---halting progress just because you feel sorry for people who may be out of jobs is silly. If we took that approach, we would not have cars because the horse and carriage people would be out of jobs, and we would not have grocery stores because the milkman would be out of a job, and we would not have airplanes because it will put train operators out of work etc. And what about telephone operators? Or bank tellers? These once used to be viable career paths...

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Iqy

Iqy here again,
This territory problem is easily solved, but it will take time. The solution is for writers to employ a good editor, then edit edit edit until their book is as perfect as it will ever be, then self publish on an ebook site that is DRM free, global, and writer friendly, not controlled by publishers. You should have a potential market of at least 3 billion people! That eliminates the printer, the agent, the distributor, the wholesaler, the transporter, and who knows who else in the food chain I don't even know about, Oh yes, the RETAILER, who doubles the price from a cost of about $15 to $30! He of course has to pay the greedy landlord!
You'll hate me for this if you work for an old publlisher, but in time you'll be out of a job anyway. If the reader is happy, $3 to $5 a book, and the writer is getting more than from an old publisher, and the editors are paid, thats it for me! The others are just hangers on for mine, what do they add? Old publishing has been around for over 200 years, its an out of date business model.

No more do we need to hear, "thank you for your manuscript, but we are not publishing your genre at the moment. Don't call us we'll call you."

How many great writers have they condemned to the scrap heap, its time for writers to let readers be the judge!

The flaw I perceive with your model, is the Author is now managing a entire Publishing business (his) , instead of doing more writing
The only steps/processes that disappear with e-books, is the concept of the Press-run and "Returns".

[alvico]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The problem at the moment, however, is that virtually no independent authors do employ an editor, and it generally takes an editor to make a book "readable". The result is that the vast majority of independent books are currently of a very poor quality.

Actually, I think you'd be surprised how many writers do employ an editor. I do. I want my manuscripts to be the best they can be before I pass them to my agent.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by theducks

The flaw I perceive with your model, is the Author is now managing a entire Publishing business (his) , instead of doing more writing

Sure, but why couldn't, say, an agent manage it? Or a clearing house-type affair where authors put up their requirements and bids were put together - potentially multiple different specialists submitting combined bids?

There's a bunch of different business models available.

[Blue Tyson]

You could encourage the senior management to keep doing it :

and make money selling the stock short as it goes into decline... ;-)