4 ms·

I guess I don't understand the question. If one publisher gives away books for free, should another publisher be allowed to copy it?

• Armisael16 9y ago
  Sorry, let me clarify. Say Doubleday is buying books from authors and selling them in bookstores - the usual model. Should Penguin be allowed to print copies of Doubleday’s books as long as Penguin gives those copies away for free?
  • CaptSpify 9y ago
    I guess I can't think of a reason why they shouldn't be able to. Is there some implication for that which you think would be detrimental?
    • Armisael16 9y ago
      In this scenario, where Doubleday has set up free-book stands across the street from brick-and-mortar stores, it becomes nearly impossible for Penguin to sell any books to anyone, and thus impossible for Penguin to pay authors for manuscripts. If you could've gotten a free copy of a Harry Potter book the day after it went on sale, would you have paid for it? Do you think there would've been any sequels if this was happening?
      • CaptSpify 9y ago
        > If you could've gotten a free copy of a Harry Potter book the day after it went on sale, would you have paid for it? Yeah, actually. In fact, that's basically what I did (for some of the sequels, not the first book). I don't get why everyone thinks that nobody is willing to pay creators. Kickstarter, Patreon, etc are living proof that people want to pay. We really need to wake up to the fact that distribution for media is basically a solved problem. We don't need gateways who continue to creat artificial barriers just so that their dying industry can try and stay alive.