It’s the equivalent of saying someone deservesd to rape or mug a victim because the victim “didn’t take better measures to protect himself.”

It’s not the equivalent, and that’s what’s offending me. Your viewpoint lacks perspective.

In any event, I am closing the thread. It’s devolved into nothing more than useless namecalling.

“A” is for apple, a bad apple that is.

LOL…Sorry, I know it’s rough being told like it is.

REgardless how much a “bad apple” I am IYUO, piracy is a crime and violates author’s copyright. I don’t appreciate it, and I will not pretend otherwise.

Personally, I’ve given up talking to pirates. Most of them flunked economics, shunned philosophy of morals, and have little respect for the law. They spout the same tired, flawed, adolescent rhetoric. A little magic, a little psuedo-utopian socialist agenda, and whole bunch of entitlement.

Here’s a little food for thought. Publishing runs on very thin margins, typically ten or twelve percent. Books are also an unusual product — almost all of the costs are front-loaded. The author’s advance, editing costs, contracts, art, typesetting, formatting etc. all need to be done before the first book (e or paper) is printed. The publisher hopes to recover those costs by selling copies — which naturally is where the pirates come in, grab the (very expensive) finished work and distribute it for free.

When you pirate, you make the honest customer feel like a chump. You’re eating his lunch, and mocking him while you do it. Maybe he/she will pirate instead of purchase next time. Congratulations, you’re bringing ‘em over to the dark side. Remember that ten percent profit margin? When sales drop below that mark, the pubisher can no longer produce books. Poof. No more publisher. I think we’re going to see a lot of that in the next few years.

The pirates claim that there will always be an endless supply of authors willing to put in countless hours, master the craft, and produce finely-polished books for free, MAYBE with a PayPal donation button on their web-site. The pirates are smoking crack. Sure, books will be created, but not in the numbers, or in the quality currently seen. Those early-career or starving midlist authors who are struggling along at sub-minimum wages are mostly doing it because they hope, despite the odds, that they’ll someday manage to make a decent living. Kill publishing, and that dream dies.

My wife is currently making a living writing. I supported her for twelve or thirteen years where her annual income bought us a couple of Burger-King dinners. She was always hopeful that the next book might just catch on. Without that dream, there’s no way she’d have kept writing. Kill the dream, and your pool of hopeful authors is going to evaporate.

Many authors are already talking about hanging up the keyboard. Shilo Walker, a very talented author, has given up on at least one series of popular books due to piracy. Those are books the world will never see, books I’ll never be able to read. I support her decision, but I’m pretty angry at the selfish pirates who drove her to it. She’s far from the only one.

Piracy is immoral and illegal, but the law is toothless and morals disturbingly flexible. I’m afraid that, barring a miracle I can’t even imagine, the only writing being done in fifteen or twenty years will be little more than fanfic. Welcome to the future.

*She says while using just a letter as her moniker to quite obviously hide her identity.*

I have much more respect for the authors who used their full names and even linked to their websites, and spoke out publicly.

I don’t care if you respect me, just respect my copyright.

P.S. — Last I checked, anonymous posting isn’t a crime, unlike copyright violation.

If you’re more offended by my use of my initial than the criminal exploitation of professional authors, I’d call your priorities a tad skewed.

@A – you need a real attitude check.

No. Criminals and supporters of criminal behavior need the real attitude check.

Your comments, attacks, and ignorant black and white beliefs about the world are loosing any support you are trying to garner.

I don’t want support. I want my rights respected. Please explain to me why that desire is an unreasonable one.

I’m attacking no one by proclaiming a crime is a crime and proclaiming I resent that crime. That is not an attack; that is truth. I’m sorry if truth offends you, but really, it’s authors whose rights are abused by pirates, not the other way around.

I think the best thing you did was keep yourself anonymous, since most readers here who are honest would likely boycott your works based on your actions.

What actions do you mean? What actions on my part merit this alleged “boycott?” Because I don’t smile and express compassion for piracy?

Boycott pirates and pirate sites. That’s the proper thing to do, don’t get peeved with me because I state plainly that piracy is wrong and I don’t condone it.

Because you are unable to clearly analyze all the things that are wrong about the current situation and how those things affect piracy rates. Piracy will always occur regardless of its morality or legality. Authors and publishers need to minimize the attractiveness of copying works for free. It’s not the readers’ jobs to do so. This is not advocating copying works, simply keeping the damage to your finances as low as possible.

Regardless of my “weak analysis” piracy is a crime and I don’t condone it.

Regardless of how commonplace it is, piracy’s a crime and I don’t condone it.

Regardless of what authors and publishers do/don’t do to placate pirates, piracy’s a crime and morally conscious people don’t condone it.

It’s the equivalent of saying someone deservesd to rape or mug a victim because the victim “didn’t take better measures to protect himself.” Piracy is not a violent crime; it is an intellectual crime. I am not going to justify criminal behavior, particularly when that behavior exploits me.

I’m sorry you think I should be happy to be exploited and should take some kind of responsibility for my own exploitation, but that’s just too bad. I will not accept responsibility for criminal behavior in others.

*She says while using just a letter as her moniker to quite obviously hide her identity.*

I have much more respect for the authors who used their full names and even linked to their websites, and spoke out publicly.

I must say, though, A: you’re really off-putting. I’ve lost all my sympathy toward you.

I don’t want your sympathy.

I have a lot of sympathy for readers who want desperately to read a particular book that is just not available to them. Clearly, the publishing industry has to change its ways, and stop making it so difficult for honest customers to give them money.

I agree it would be wonderful if the world was a perfect place and everyone could get whatever s/he wanted whenever s/he wanted it. Real life does not pan out this way, unfortunate but hardly justification for criminal behavior.

You apparently live in a world of no moral ambiguity whatsoever, and there’s nothing in the world that you want or need that’s not easily and legally available to you.

I live in the same world you do. Desiring something not easily or legally available to me does not justify criminal behavior. No one “needs” an ebook. It is a recreational item. We aren’t talking about people lacking life’s essentials (i.e., food and water, shelter, clothing, medical care) and resorting to criminal behavior to acquire those essentials. We are talking about people pirating copyrighted material for personal entertainment, empowerment, and the illicit thrill attached to “one-upping the man.”

You’ve clearly never had to face hard choices.

I’ve faced several hard choices without pirating copyrighted material belonging to others.

And everybody else in the world who has to chose between committing a misdemeanor or doing without can rot in jail, can they?

They probably won’t rot in jail, but they should.

I and my family have invested substantially (time, money, travel, education, and research) in my writing. I love, value, and respect my work. I will not condone piracy of my or anyone else’s copyrighted work. Period.

You’re commenting to the effect I don’t have a clue about real life and deprivation. I don’t think you have a clue about the extreme expense in terms of time and money in the writing profession. If you had an inkling of the effort, financial expense, and emotional costs involved in the creative process, piracy would appall you.

Thank you for suggesting authors deserve to be made putains of people who really want to read something.

I must say, though, A: you’re really off-putting. I’ve lost all my sympathy toward you. You apparently live in a world of no moral ambiguity whatsoever, and there’s nothing in the world that you want or need that’s not easily and legally available to you. You’ve clearly never had to face hard choices. And everybody else in the world who has to chose between committing a misdemeanor or doing without can rot in jail, can they?

You are on a high horse. I hope it doesn’t hurt you too badly when you fall off.

Posting on the publisher reader forum asking where their books may be obtained for free.

Posting on the publisher reader forum asking where other publisher’s books may be obtained for free.

Asking the publisher to sell you a single copy of each book with “resale rights” so you can open your own bookstore in a subcontinental country.

Claiming your ex/jealous lesbian lover pirated the book to “get back at you.”

When confronted by enraged author, crying that you love their books and would never do anything to hurt them.

Using the same email address on the pirate link as you do to send gushing reviews to the author.

Let me make it clear. I realize pirates have always been around, always will be around, etc. I realize pirates think their piracy is justified or are simply so amoral they do not care about authors’ rights.

I realize — and am quite disturbed — that some DA posters think authors are in the wrong to criticize piracy or are somehow obligated to provide pirates with benefits to “convince” them not to exploit the author’s work.

I understand that, despite the illegality, it’s unlikely I can prevent piracy.

Pro-piracy camp, you need to understand this. I am not going to hide my disgust and contempt of you behind diplomacy and PR smiles. I am going to call your behavior what it is: CRIMINAL and IMMORAL.

If you have a problem with that, GOOD. Heed your conscience, and do what is right.

Sorry A, but you really need to do your research better for your analogies. As Jane state above, “copyright infringement is not stealing and I wish we would stop using those terms. The Supreme Court clearly stated that it is not a theft because it doesn’t deprive the copyright owner of the ability to exercise her intellectual property. IP is not the same as real property and therefore terms like “theft” and “stealing” associated with copyright infringement is simply erroneous and hyperbolic.”

So get off your high horse and stick to the facts. Sure it’s illegal and immoral, but it’s NOT STEALING OR THEFT.

1. I do not care what Jane says and how the U.S.S.C. ruled. I care that criminals are exploiting my work and infringing upon my copyright via piracy.

2. I don’t care if IP and RP aren’t the same thing. I care that morally unconscious criminals exploit my work and infringe upon my copyright via piracy.

3. I’m not on a “high horse.” Morally unconscious criminals A.K.A. pirates are simply so LOW I appear to be on a “high horse.” I cannot stoop to that level. I abhor dark, slimy, stinky underground places and could never go down where these criminals are. Every time they open the manhole and try crawling into the sunshine, they start to shrivel – they need to go back down. They’re kings in their dinky free download sites while in daylight and fresh air, they’re repulsive slime balls.

Here’s FACT:

“The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.”

http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/

If Sephora has an ebook and makes a copy of it and gives it to someone, Sephora still has the original. The number of books has then gone UP not DOWN. If you don’t know the difference between UP and DOWN and GREATER and LESSER…

You yourself stated several posts ago that the bootleg copies can be inferior in quality. I do not benefit by having inferior copies of my copyrighted work available for free download on the internet.

Once again, I do not care that additional, potentially inferior copies of my books are available on the internet. I care that pirates infring upon my copyright and give away my work.

They have. There aren’t any, because publishers and authors won’t provide them. I personally deleted 20 books off a wishlist the other day that I can’t buy, that I could have a few months back.

This falls under the realm of “not my problem.” Too bad. Tough luck. Doesn’t give you the right to engage in piracy. I have no obligation to provide you with something in order to encourage you not to exploit my intellectual property. If you possessed a shred of moral consciousness, you would know that.

Sorry A, but you really need to do your research better for your analogies. As Jane state above, “copyright infringement is not stealing and I wish we would stop using those terms. The Supreme Court clearly stated that it is not a theft because it doesn’t deprive the copyright owner of the ability to exercise her intellectual property. IP is not the same as real property and therefore terms like “theft” and “stealing” associated with copyright infringement is simply erroneous and hyperbolic.”

So get off your high horse and stick to the facts. Sure it’s illegal and immoral, but it’s NOT STEALING OR THEFT.

“So…if an impoverished shoplifter steals lipstick from Sephora’s, Sephora’s did not lose anything? After all, the shoplifter was never going to purchase the lipstick. ”

I am sure other people have said this, but this is even more egregious illogic. Sephora’s then has one less lipstick. If Sephora has an ebook and makes a copy of it and gives it to someone, Sephora still has the original. The number of books has then gone UP not DOWN. If you don’t know the difference between UP and DOWN and GREATER and LESSER…

“Readers in this scenario should look into options to lawfully procure the desired item/s. Not steal them.”

They have. There aren’t any, because publishers and authors won’t provide them. I personally deleted 20 books off a wishlist the other day that I can’t buy, that I could have a few months back.

It also has nothing to do with the possibility that heavy downloaders may be your best customers.

How do I make this clear to you. Let’s see.

1. I do not care if a pirate likes me or not; I care that s/he is infringing upon my copyright and giving away my work.

2. I do not care if pirate/s are or are not my best customers. I care that pirates are infringing upon my copyright and giving away my work.

3. I do not care if pirate/s read or don’t read my work; I don’t care if pirate/s like or dislike my work. I care that pirates infringe upon my copyright and give away my work.

4. I don’t care if pirate/s never heard of me or my work and would never drop a penny on my books, whatever the reason. I care pirates infringe upon my copyright and give away my work.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

You have a serious problem with logic.

I have a serious problem with criminals.

If someone does not have the money to buy it, there is zero financial loss, because it would never ever be bought in the first place.

So…if an impoverished shoplifter steals lipstick from Sephora’s, Sephora’s did not lose anything? After all, the shoplifter was never going to purchase the lipstick.

I find it hard to believe the average pirate can’t afford the book/s they pirate. More plausible: they prefer to steal the books and use their disposable income on other items that either hold greater priority or are more difficult to steal. They want the books, they just prefer not to pay for the books.

Exactly the same thing applies if there is no legal way to buy it.

Readers in this scenario should look into options to lawfully procure the desired item/s. Not steal them.

Then there are the people who download that would never buy it.

I would never buy cabbage. I dislike cabbage. Does that mean I may steal cabbage from the supermarket?

No logic problem here.