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I mean, imagine they did. So a huge group of people get to try your software for free. There's a system to try and cut them off at two weeks but it might fail.
by aeturnum 6y ago
I mean, imagine they did.
So a huge group of people get to try your software for free. There's a system to try and cut them off at two weeks but it might fail. This is basically free marketing. All sorts of people who may never have tried your software try it. Nearly all of them don't buy it, but some do. It doesn't cost you any money and you're able to help people in need.
There's evidence that, in general, piracy lowers sales, but the specifics are complex and uncertain[1]. Piracy can have positive impacts on the fortunes of the original artist. I think that a crisis like this is exactly the time to try new and experimental ways of making things available.
[1] https://marketly.com/does-piracy-impact-sales/ https://marketly.com/does-piracy-impact-sales/
- chx 6y ago> . I think that a crisis like this is exactly the time to try new and experimental ways of making things available. Yeah a crisis when the stress level of anyone is already much higher is the best time to crank the stress of authors even higher by experimenting with their livelihood without consulting them!
- indymike 6y agoThere is a huge difference between a book and code that I write. A book can be read once and the reader benefits. Useful software is usually useful for far more than one use. Free trials and demos are how we sell more software. A book? It's hard to have a free trial. That said, I really have a hard time assailing libraries. Ebooks are sold to libraries at 2-5x the price I can buy the same ebook for as a consumer. Print books are sold at similar prices to consumers and libraries.
- catalogia 6y ago> A book? It's hard to have a free trial. Publish one chapter of the book in an anthology, on the web, etc. I've purchased several books after reading one chapter in this manner.