3 ms·

While I know they need to fund servers somehow, the approach and wording of their download page doesn't sit right with me: >Fast downloads - Become a member to

by crtasm 3y ago

While I know they need to fund servers somehow, the approach and wording of their download page doesn't sit right with me: >Fast downloads - Become a member to support the long-term preservation of books, papers, and more. To show our gratitude for your support, you get fast downloads. >[3 "Fast Partner Server" links] >Refer a friend, and both you and your friend get 50% bonus fast downloads! >[3 "Slow Partner Server" links] $5/m gets 20 fast downloads a day. I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this. edit: I should have said that the donations page is important context too: https://annas-archive.org/donate https://annas-archive.org/donate

DymistAlarm 3y ago
The free external providers work for a user who requires a small number of downloads. I don't see an issue with charging users who would cause large amounts of traffic. It is a subscription model described as donations but this is common for many piracy sites.
vintagedave 3y ago
Why doesn't it sit right? Providing a higher level of service reward for those who support provides an incentive, yet those who do not support are no worse off than they already were. What surprises me is the need for fast downloads. Books are small. 20 fast small downloads doesn't seem much of a reward.
- carlosjobim 3y ago
  There's an enormous difference between spreading stolen information for free or selling stolen information for profit. If you don't understand this, you have to investigate your moral compass a bit. There's a reason why purchasing stolen goods is a crime in most of the world.
  - BlueTemplar 3y ago
    Yeah, while governments indeed do not care too much about "piracy", this raises the threat that they will do something to stop it, and the punishment will be harsher. See also : the recent shutdown by Nintendo of a Switch emulator, where they exploited the fact that it got crowdfunded (with specific rewards for bigger backers ?).
- crtasm 3y ago
  That the first thing it says on every download page is a push to sign up for a monthly subscription. Then it continues with a push to refer friends to do the same. From some testing there seems to be a built in delay, and then as some scanned books can easily be 20-100MB a download time of 5-10mins isn't uncommon. (I not complaining about this) I support their goals of open access, FWIW. edit: the call for people to run mirrors is interesting to see: https://annas-archive.org/mirrors https://annas-archive.org/mirrors
- devsda 3y ago
  Anything else of value with exclusivity like an additional catalog or early-access would go against their stated goal. So, I guess this is similar to buying official physical merchandise like t-shirt or mug at a higher than market price which they cannot ship (legally) due to the nature of their service. Both parties know that the benefit they get doesn't match the costs and it is about showing support.
  - crtasm 3y ago
    >additional catalog or early-access Yes, I wouldn't suggest or support anything like that. One way this feels different to me is that while somewhere able to sell merchandise may have a range of items including some very expensive it generally wouldn't be suggesting I buy something every month and then offer an increasing % discount for paying 3/6/12/24 months up front.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
boomboomsubban 3y ago
From the FAQ, https://annas-archive.org/donation_faq https://annas-archive.org/donation_faq >If you don’t like how we operate our project, go run your own shadow library! All our code and data are open source, so nothing is stopping you. ;) Or be more specific what doesn't sit right with you.
- lannisterstark 3y ago
  This is such a childish response to the comment. "wah if you criticize us go do your own thing we really dislike taking feedback" is absurdly naive.
  - boomboomsubban 3y ago
    On the one side, we have a group of people who have poured untold hours and cash into a project that provides almost no benefit to themselves, on the other side we have a group of people that stumble across said project and say "wah you should do things the way I want." Which side seems childish?
- crtasm 3y ago
  I'm unsure what quoting that to me achieves? What are your thoughts on their approach to getting donations (monthly subscriptions)?
  - boomboomsubban 3y ago
    They need to fund the operation somehow, if you think you can fund it without aggressively pushing for donations you're free to create your own library.
  - datadrivenangel 3y ago
    If you don't like their approach, you can host your own shadow library. It's all open source. :)
    - crtasm 3y ago
necovek 3y ago
How would you prefer it they collected more money?

by crtasm 3y ago

DymistAlarm 3y ago

The free external providers work for a user who requires a small number of downloads. I don't see an issue with charging users who would cause large amounts of traffic. It is a subscription model described as donations but this is common for many piracy sites.

vintagedave 3y ago

Why doesn't it sit right? Providing a higher level of service reward for those who support provides an incentive, yet those who do not support are no worse off than they already were. What surprises me is the need for fast downloads. Books are small. 20 fast small downloads doesn't seem much of a reward.

carlosjobim 3y ago
There's an enormous difference between spreading stolen information for free or selling stolen information for profit. If you don't understand this, you have to investigate your moral compass a bit. There's a reason why purchasing stolen goods is a crime in most of the world.
- BlueTemplar 3y ago
  Yeah, while governments indeed do not care too much about "piracy", this raises the threat that they will do something to stop it, and the punishment will be harsher. See also : the recent shutdown by Nintendo of a Switch emulator, where they exploited the fact that it got crowdfunded (with specific rewards for bigger backers ?).
crtasm 3y ago
That the first thing it says on every download page is a push to sign up for a monthly subscription. Then it continues with a push to refer friends to do the same. From some testing there seems to be a built in delay, and then as some scanned books can easily be 20-100MB a download time of 5-10mins isn't uncommon. (I not complaining about this) I support their goals of open access, FWIW. edit: the call for people to run mirrors is interesting to see: https://annas-archive.org/mirrors https://annas-archive.org/mirrors
devsda 3y ago
Anything else of value with exclusivity like an additional catalog or early-access would go against their stated goal. So, I guess this is similar to buying official physical merchandise like t-shirt or mug at a higher than market price which they cannot ship (legally) due to the nature of their service. Both parties know that the benefit they get doesn't match the costs and it is about showing support.
- crtasm 3y ago
  >additional catalog or early-access Yes, I wouldn't suggest or support anything like that. One way this feels different to me is that while somewhere able to sell merchandise may have a range of items including some very expensive it generally wouldn't be suggesting I buy something every month and then offer an increasing % discount for paying 3/6/12/24 months up front.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]

boomboomsubban 3y ago

From the FAQ, https://annas-archive.org/donation_faq https://annas-archive.org/donation_faq >If you don’t like how we operate our project, go run your own shadow library! All our code and data are open source, so nothing is stopping you. ;) Or be more specific what doesn't sit right with you.

lannisterstark 3y ago
This is such a childish response to the comment. "wah if you criticize us go do your own thing we really dislike taking feedback" is absurdly naive.
- boomboomsubban 3y ago
  On the one side, we have a group of people who have poured untold hours and cash into a project that provides almost no benefit to themselves, on the other side we have a group of people that stumble across said project and say "wah you should do things the way I want." Which side seems childish?
crtasm 3y ago
I'm unsure what quoting that to me achieves? What are your thoughts on their approach to getting donations (monthly subscriptions)?
- boomboomsubban 3y ago
  They need to fund the operation somehow, if you think you can fund it without aggressively pushing for donations you're free to create your own library.
- datadrivenangel 3y ago
  If you don't like their approach, you can host your own shadow library. It's all open source. :)
  - crtasm 3y ago

necovek 3y ago

How would you prefer it they collected more money?