3 ms·

There was an article on HN a few weeks ago about a guy who was selling something I don't remember. But he used to sell books. And when talking about piracy he a

There was an article on HN a few weeks ago about a guy who was selling something I don't remember. But he used to sell books. And when talking about piracy he asked the audience who did not agree with him "how many of you are fanboys/fangirls of an author and will buy everything that person makes" which was followed by "how many of you bought the anything made by that author as your very first introduction to him/her as opposed to borrowing it from someone, reading it in a library, pirating it and reading it, etc...?" People understand the value of things. If you give people something they value and want more of, they will gladly pay for it (the value that they see it's worth) because they want you to keep producing. They know if they stop there will be nothing new. So the end-goal is to make people see the value you produce (even if its giving them that thing for free) because instead of instant-value you will get long-term customers.

RyanMcGreal 16y ago
That sounds like Neil Gaiman's take on piracy: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351978 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351978
- pjscott 16y ago
  Or Eric Flint's take on it, which resulted in Baen Books putting a respectable number of their books online for free: http://www.baen.com/library/ http://www.baen.com/library/ It's been a good boost to sales.
TheAmazingIdiot 16y ago
The comment below this one mentions Gaiman, which is pro-customer. However, I believe the reference you are looking for was the comic author who was pirated on 4chan. Then he showed up and starting talking with them, and encouraging them. Of course "Pics or it didnt happen" occurred, so Steve Lieber (author/artist) posted the BoingBoing vs 4Chan chart. "If nothing else, I'm flattered someone thought enough of the book to take the time to scan and post it" - Steve Lieber. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101021/10481211524/comic-book-pirated-on-4chan-author-joins-discussion-watches-sales-soar.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101021/10481211524/comic-...

RyanMcGreal 16y ago

That sounds like Neil Gaiman's take on piracy: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351978 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2351978

pjscott 16y ago
Or Eric Flint's take on it, which resulted in Baen Books putting a respectable number of their books online for free: http://www.baen.com/library/ http://www.baen.com/library/ It's been a good boost to sales.

TheAmazingIdiot 16y ago

The comment below this one mentions Gaiman, which is pro-customer. However, I believe the reference you are looking for was the comic author who was pirated on 4chan. Then he showed up and starting talking with them, and encouraging them. Of course "Pics or it didnt happen" occurred, so Steve Lieber (author/artist) posted the BoingBoing vs 4Chan chart. "If nothing else, I'm flattered someone thought enough of the book to take the time to scan and post it" - Steve Lieber. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101021/10481211524/comic-book-pirated-on-4chan-author-joins-discussion-watches-sales-soar.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101021/10481211524/comic-...