Re: The Seven Types Of Pirate

From: "Brenna Lyons" 
>>
>Joseph,
>
>Hang tight, because I know what Barry is trying to say here. At least I
>think I do, because I'm about to explain it just how I do on my blog. He's
>stating it poorly and raising backs...no offense, Barry...but I think I know
>what he means to say.

Brenna,

The difficulty is not what he meant, but that he repeats the basic pirate arguments and excuses. Now it took a lot of toing and froing to find out why. His problems have nothing to do with piracy issues at all. And I find myself very on guard when people start accusing others of being emotional.

Unfortunately it was at the point he revealed his problems that he decided to leave.

Broadly, as you know, I am not in disagreement with you on this issue. But there are one or two points I have comments on.

....and I have seen honest readers on blogs and forums
>say they are going to pirate because of it, .... some of these readers have cut their teeth on indie press
>ebook offerings. ...

Frankly it is a position that cuts no ice  with me. Not because I am unsympathetic to real need, but because there is a time when we all have to grow up, and begin to take responsibility for our actions and usually start paying our own way. The idea that people should have *anything* they want, and *now*, is not real, and is destructive in any kind of society.

>
>1. NY conglomerate still uses the old rights systems for overseas rights....
>readers overseas are frustrated by the fact that a format ...>They thought ebooks would allow them to read books that hadn't reached print

But that is not a permission to act dishonestly, unfortunate and annoying as it may be. In fact the failure is with their government for not putting pressure on, and with themselves for not setting up an effective pressure group. The suggestion, in your words, is that breach of law is OK if one is upset! That is the route to Mad Max country. And upset is an emotional response by the way.

... some of which block whole groups of US and UK
>publishers, for what their state religions or governments consider content
>problems.

What! Are you suggesting that because another country does not have your views, or your country's views, the other country and its properly elected government is wrong? 50 years ago no country accepted the content that is freely available today. These decisions are political choices; citizens in a free society can campaign to change things - which is how censorship got changed over the past 50 years in most western countries.

.......... Admittedly, no, but they don't have the 
>patience for any other answer, it seems.

Breaking laws is not the sustainable  way to bring about change, nor a thing to encourage.


>
>2. NY conglomerate often delays the release of ebook to "protect" (you'll
>hear this from them a lot) their hard bound sales. Now, this one I have
>little sympathy for pirates on. Granted, indie doesn't do this, and I think
>conglomerates are idiots for it, 

It is their business model, and entirely consistent with their long term model. Hardbacks have been used that way since paperbacks became a viable alternative 40 or more years ago. the paperback could be delayed a year - very occasionally longer. Before that there were popular versions of books, often under another imprint and in a cheaper version; the same model that is used in electronic innovation - i.e. get the big payers first for production costs, then go through the price markets in price rank for ROI.

Big publisher model is quite different from an indie. Their fate may go well or badly according to their decisions now. With the latest move to vanity press arms they may actually be on the way out.

>
>3. NY conglomerate's pricing system for books is often outside the indie
>range. .... It's a difference in goals and philosphies. A culture
>clash.

Indies have a lot to learn about pricing. Current perceived prices are too low; conglomerate prices may be too high. But in the early days of the 'technology indie' the right level will not have shaken out. Marion made a good point about her frustration in advising small publishers about business models. The idea that the small publisher works for very little and works all the hours God gives is not the way to sustainability.

>Brenna

Look, I get frustrated by all our governments in turn, but that doesn't mean I have a right to imitate Guy Fawkes and blow up our Houses of Parliament. It means I have a reason to join or start a pressure group, or to be a one man irritant, or to bite my lip or put up with it.

As I pointed out to Barry, and have before, piracy - for whatever reason - will lead to reactions, and the one which is on an increasing number of governments 'to do' lists IS criminalising piracy. I think that will be bad; but it will be worse to destroy publishing by appeasement.

Joseph


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