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Discussion on: Stealing Isn't "Sharing"

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

The reality is that you need some compelling way to compete with "free" in order to reduce piracy.

And, of course, authors and publishers have tried and failed for years to do that.

Unfortunately, I think that argument puts too much of the onus on the victim. That's like saying to a shop-owner "To reduce burglary, you should find some compelling way to make paying for the products (instead of stealing them) more worthwhile."

It's already illegal, and it's already enforced (see also DRM, DMCA) as best as the medium can allow, but criminals are always determined to bypass protections. Then, they turn around and say "Well, if you really cared so much about not getting robbed, maybe you should have tried harder to stop me."

My point really is simply don't download, create, distribute, or read illegal copies of ebooks etc.

(P.S. That list was in specific response to someone suggesting finding a better way to prevent piracy.)

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charlesdlandau profile image
Charles Landau

My point really is simply don't download, create, distribute, or read illegal copies of ebooks etc.

(P.S. That list was in specific response to someone suggesting finding a better way to prevent piracy.)

I think that's fair and if your whole point is "don't pirate" then that's well taken. I quoted that list to suss out what the "ask" is but I appreciate your pointing out the context.

What I'm getting at, anyway, is the lesson of napster. Once music was available for "free" the bell couldn't be unrung. There was some show litigation which arguably cost the industry more in goodwill than it won them in settlements. Other than that, the whole industry hemorrhaged money to napster, and then iTunes, and now YouTube/Spotify.

Today, the legal reality is that music costs money, but the economic reality is that it is effectively free. I pay spotify for their UX, their hosting, the features like playlist management. I don't pay them for the actual music. If the same becomes true for books, what then? (And arguably, it already has happened for books.)

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald • Edited

Yeah, unfortunately you're right.

I'll be surprised if eBooks are even a thing in another decade. Publishers may well decide it isn't economically viable, and since they aren't quite deliverable like music is (pay-per read???), they may just throw in the towel and resort to print form.

(Like I mentioned, I'm already legitimately considering that myself, as a publisher.)

At which point, the pirates can thank themselves for ruining the party for literally everyone.

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charlesdlandau profile image
Charles Landau

I think that would be a real shame if it turns out the way you're saying. Thanks for your post and for chatting with me, it's an important topic.

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

Thank you too. I appreciate the conversation!

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