"Free" books aren't free

[pbray]

Boosting the signal-- Saundra Mitchell eloquently explains the impact of e-piracy on authors.

My take-- fans who think they are helping by illegally distributing or downloading my books might just as well commit identify theft and max out my Visa card. In the long run, that would be less financially painful.

Comments

[karen-w-newton.livejournal.com]

I loved the commnter who said a "friend" told him he never pays for music because "Why pay for something when you can get it for free?" Someone needs to tell that guy that's the shoplifter's philosophy. He might not feel that way if someone took something of his.

[sarahtales.livejournal.com]

VIGOROUS NODDING. Saundra is a rockstar, and I was so happy to be so valiantly defended. (She's like a knight errant rockstar.)

Yeah

[zornhau.livejournal.com]

Morally, it comes down to, "If you like my tale well enough to sit by the tavern's fireside and hear it out, then you damn well owe me a beer."

I thik the best tack, though, is to push the ecological paradigm: http://zornhau.livejournal.com/207911.html?thread=1261863

Re: Yeah

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I like the ecological paradigm, thanks for the link.

And yeah, I'd happily give a copy of my book to anyone who sat down and bought me a beer :-) But only the good stuff.

[vespican.livejournal.com]

These days it is hard enough for unpublished writers to break in to the business, even without a__ h____ downloading illegally and stretching the publisher's profit margin (and the author's royalties) beyond the limit. It's just plain old STEALING!
Dave

[pbray.livejournal.com]

What amazed me is the gall of people who proudly announce that they are ripping off the author by torrenting their works--as if this theft is somehow a good thing.

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of words heard in the lyrics of a Charlie Daniels' song. Something about a tall tree and a short rope.
Dave