The Business of Writing > Laws about Writing

Book Piracy

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Bob Mueller:
I'll admit to being a bit surprised about this; I had no idea people were actively sharing books. I know how long it takes us to scan documents for work here, and I can't imagine trying to scan in something like Clear and Present Danger. But I guess it's happening. Then again, I happened upon a link to a PDF copy of one of the Harry Potter books the day after it was released.  :-\

Elena:
I think the problem is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. I had a conversation with one of the managers of a local branch of a national chain about the increasing number of empty shelves and the removal of entire book cases. This went along with the last four books that I would have purchased there but couldn't because they didn't have them, and are no longer allowed to special order them. In the past they definitely would have carried them.

Seems that all purchasing decisions are now done on a national basis based on crystal ball predictions of what will sell. Local buying patterns are no longer considered. All that expensive computer power is now disregarded. And, in a dumb effort to cut costs, they are only stocking what they consider "sure sellers". You definitely cannot sell something you don't stock - a self fulling action if I've ever seen one.

Pretty soon it's going to be down to Amazon and the Pirates.

Charles King:
So long as there's a distinction between sharing a book--even a PDF of it-- with a friend over actual piracy, like through a website, I'm all in favor of cracking skulls. Sharing a book is one of the best things about--well, books.

Too, maybe we should make an advantage out of a disadvantage. I sense a new type of blurb or cover letter containing the phrase "most pirated" coming in the future. I figure marketing is marketing even if it's black marketing.

CKing 8)

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