03-25-2012, 02:25 PM | #1 | |
Chasing Butterflies
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Smashwords Help
Can anyone help me with Smashwords? I'm about to pull out my hair.
I have a message that says: This book requires modification prior to inclusion in Smashwords' premium catalog. And then there's a rambly form page of zero usefulness that is clearly a form letter even though the bottom claims we reviewed your book and provided you notes on how to fix your problems. Where are these notes?? Most of all, I'm concerned by this statement in the form letter: Quote:
Am I correct in understanding that Smashwords will not feed my novel to Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc. if I don't implement their copyright clause instead of my own? |
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03-25-2012, 04:12 PM | #2 |
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Yes you do.
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03-25-2012, 04:18 PM | #3 |
Chasing Butterflies
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ARGH. Really? Really?
Why does Smashwords feel the need to dictate my copyright notice to me? Is there an email address where I can actually explain the situation to them? I hate being in a position between having to tell my Kobo shoppers this. I really, really, really do not want to put this 'if you share a book with your spouse you are crapping on an author's hard work' statement, because I do not agree with it. I don't like my distributer dictating content. |
03-25-2012, 04:22 PM | #4 |
Feral Underclass
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There is an email address on the site, but you won't get anywhere. They refused my A.C.A.B. title because it was all in uppercase. Looks daft as Acab.
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03-25-2012, 04:43 PM | #5 | |
Chasing Butterflies
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Quote:
I hate this, though! It looks so unprofessional, just like their insistence that the copyright notice be on the first page. That looks so unprofessional to me. I sent them an email. I really hope they can make an exception. I'm not comfortable with the idea that spousal book sharing is theft. Last edited by anamardoll; 03-25-2012 at 04:48 PM. |
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03-25-2012, 05:09 PM | #6 |
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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If you're distributing it for free, there's a different license agreement you can use. Its somewhere in the style guide.
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03-25-2012, 05:34 PM | #7 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Quote:
I have no idea how the premium inclusion works with feeds to other sites--I can't imagine people who get books from Amazon would like a notice that says "please return to Smashwords to buy additional copies." Maybe it needs to be EXACT so their program can strip out that part before feeding to other stores. |
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03-25-2012, 05:38 PM | #8 |
Electronic media explorer
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Got this from the Style guide, under "21c - Add a Smashwords License Statement below Copyright".
I presume the "it's up to you" part means you can use a standard CC license. But yeah, I guess an email's the best way to clear this up. __ If your book is free, it should still have a license statement. It’s up to you. Do you want to grant readers the right to redistribute the book for non-commercial purposes, or do you want to restrict the book to their enjoyment only and invite them to ask others to download the book on their own at Smashwords? Here are two potential suggested license statements for free books: Smashwords Edition, License Notes Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. Smashwords Edition, License Notes Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. |
03-25-2012, 05:44 PM | #9 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Quote:
(I absolutely hate false copyright statements--ones that say "no part of this book may be reproduced by any means w/o permission." Grr.)) |
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03-25-2012, 06:27 PM | #10 |
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Don't think so. The only one I can remember is the requirement that every price end in 99 cents, and that's just to prevent some of the catalogs from marking it up to the next highest 99 cents.
Last edited by teh603; 03-25-2012 at 06:31 PM. |
03-25-2012, 06:37 PM | #11 | ||
Chasing Butterflies
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Quote:
Like Elfwreck, I abhor false statements in books. "Licensed for your personal enjoyment only" is utterly incorrect and completely ignores the very concept of Fair Use, as well as my overarching CC license. I've sent off an email, but am not hopeful for a resolution. Am considering the following: Quote:
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03-25-2012, 08:51 PM | #12 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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Are you happy for someone to place the ebook on their website to make it easier for their friends to download a copy? IF this is the case then I get the impression you are trying to achieve what the software industry calls "donationware", where users that like the software are asked, but not required, to make a donation to the creator. Since software ends up being distributed from many places the creator generally places a donation link on their website (paypal or similar), sometimes with a suggested amount. Assuming your book directs readers to your website this might cover what you had in mind - and perhaps Smashwords would permit your book to have a statement to this effect beneath the license (ie. not as a license condition, but as a request from the author). |
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03-25-2012, 09:50 PM | #13 | |
Chasing Butterflies
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You can still sell your work under a Creative Commons license, if that's where the confusion lies. |
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03-25-2012, 11:42 PM | #14 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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Quote:
Yes you can still sell your work, but to quote that link you provided: "However, all Creative Commons licenses allow others to distribute your work under Creative Commons for free (and possibly for payment.)" As long as you are aware of that, then it's obviously your choice. From what I've seen on these forums you are not alone in wanting to distribute your ebook in this manner, perhaps some sort of group approach to Smashwords would see them take seriously the idea of this third method of distribution. |
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03-26-2012, 12:24 AM | #15 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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There's no contradiction between "cost is X" and "you're allowed to copy & distribute it for free if you want." It means that someone could, presumably, acquire it without paying if they looked around a bit first. But the author's not obligated to tell everyone there's a free version available, just like authors selling hardcovers aren't obligated to direct people to the paperback version or library editions of their books. |
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