4 ms·
I say this as a copyright minimalist: the comparison to used bookstores is a bit disingenuous, for two reasons. The fact that used bookstores exist, and that y
by wnoise 15y ago
I say this as a copyright minimalist: the comparison to used bookstores is a bit disingenuous, for two reasons.
The fact that used bookstores exist, and that you can sell old books means that a new book is worth not just the value derived from reading it, but also the price you can get from selling it when you are done. In theory this reflected in a slightly higher initial price of purchase. (Not all readers will sell, of course, but some will, and the ability to do so should matter on the margin.)
The used book is also a substitute for a new book. Buying a used book increases the price, driving people who would buy the used version to buy the new one instead and at equilibrium raises the prices for the new version as well. In theory, of course.
- AlisdairO 15y agoNot just that, but only one person can have the book at any one time - unlike our current piracy system where one copy can spawn effectively infinite sub-copies. This means that when a given number of people want to read a book (and particularly if they want to read it in some relatively short period after the book's release), you need to have a substantial number of new book sales to support all those people. This isn't a requirement with modern-day piracy.
- rrreese 15y agoAlso note that a secondhand book isn't a perfect substitute for a new books. Some people don't want to own second hand books, and many people don't want to give secondhand items as gifts. On the other hand second hand books often get resold several times. When I was a student and bought secondhand books regularly it wasn't unusual to buy a book that already had several second hand book stores stamps on the first page, a book that I would end up selling myself at a later time.