Joe’s Comments (group member since Feb 16, 2010)

Joe’s comments from the Authors Without A Yacht (AWaY) group.

I read your rant and some of the comments. Although I think piracy is great problem and that pirates should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law -- they rarely are though, sigh -- it's a waste of time to go after the buyers. It's enough to educate them that there is no free lunch and that may be willing or unwilling accomplices of pirates. It's those who profit from piracy -- such as Ebay itself -- that should be prosecuted. It's the same way with the war on drugs. The addicts and low-level pushers who get sent to jail, while the gangsters who make millions off of illegal drugs are rarely prosecuted.

This seems like good news. Is the FBI finally cracking down on these pirates?

One of the problems is that there is no single organization that speaks for the e-book/book publishing business such as there is for the music and movie industry. Authors and book publishers are seldom mentioned in any of the blogs pro or anti SOPA. It's as though we don't exist. How can we go on strike with no organization? It would be nice to pull all e-books from the big booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Fictionwise for a day. I belong to EPIC, but it's pretty small and divided on the subject itself.

I agree with Larry completely. We're fighting an uphill battle. I'm especially disappointed on receiving E-mail against SOPA from organizations that dub themselves for the little guy. I don't believe the politicians know that much about the internet and piracy and are listening to a lot of propaganda put out by the corporate internet, who are making a profit off of piracy.

I really don't know. You would have to ask my publisher, J.M. Stine of Renaissance E-Books. My guess would be Kindle since everybody I know is familiar with Amazon and trust it for purchases. Maybe the Nook would be second. But all of this is conjecture on my part.

Rowena, may I have your permission to forward your latest posts on piracy to my congressman?

Joe Vadalma
jvadalma@hvc.rr.com

I'm glad you posted the whole thing Rowena. Sometimes when only a link is posted, I have a tendency to skip it. The questions surrounding piracy are very complicated and most people are not that internet savvy to understand it. I'm not sure I understand all the ins and outs and what affect SOPA will actually have on piracy and the internet in general. I'm sure the drafters of the bill don't either. I'm reminded of all the controversy over Obama's health bill. Both the pros and cons in both cases have been prone to exaggeration.

Also most ebooks retail so cheaply, anyone can afford them. Libraries are really obsolete except for luddites who insist on printed books and for use by children.

I have one suggestion. Have libraries charge their patrons a small amount (say 50 cents)for a week's rental plus a 25 cents fine for each day the book is late. A portion of the proceeds would go back to the publisher or author (for self-published authors)and keep a small percentage for use by the library.

David wrote: "I agree this is a concern. But, here's a question -- do libraries have to buy an initial copy? If so, I don't see how this is different from print books, where a library buys a copy and then loans..."

The problem is that with e-books, copies of copies can be made. Someone can check out an E-book and put it on a pirate web site where thousands of people can download it for free, all lost royalties to the author.

Larry wrote: "Joe, you are correct. That is EXACTLY the problem. Apparently Amazon failed to consult any of its Kindle distribution authors, nor even posted information on its website about how such a program ..."

Have you consulted a lawyer? Also, how do you know whether your book is part of this program? I just went to the Amazon web site and did not see anything about libraries.

I don't know much about the law, but it seems to me that Amazon would have to get permission from the copyright holder (usually the author) or his or her agent (publisher in most cases) before doing this. At this point a contract is in order that specifies compensation. You lawyers out there, am I right?

Rowena, Could you post these statistics on EPIC-biz also?

You have to wonder at people who expect to receive their entertainment for free. I guess it is because their parents or somebody else paid the cable bills and electrical bills that they think TV is free. They give no thought of what it takes to produce a piece of music, a TV show, a novel or a movie. They seem to think the world owes them.

Absolutely they should be prosecuted to the extent the law allows. Piracy is theft. They depriving the people who worked hard to produce a work the income they deserve. Also, if a few examples were made of these people it may deter others.

Rowena,

I went to the link in your post and all I got was a list.

Joe Vadalma
http://papajoesfantasticworld.com

It's too bad our publishers can't do something like that with out E-books, such as have the middle section of the book disappear from a pirated version.

It serves the people trying to get something for nothing right if they get scammed. Greed has always been the conman's best friend.

Obviously what this person is proposing is unethical. It's a bait and switch scheme and identity theft. Anyone who does this is no better than a criminal.

I would add to the list:

Ebook piracy is like stealing from the poor.

Joe Vadalma
http://papajoesfantasticworld.com