5 ms·

Is there a legal alternative to illegal projects like Libgen? I would really really want something like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read

Is there a legal alternative to illegal projects like Libgen? I would really really want something like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
whimsicalism 2y ago
libby? hoopla? also kindle unlimited
- eimrine 2y ago
  That are not for technical books, and Amazon used to be famous for deleting a book from used's devices. It is not exactly fare to compale an honest source of technical books which allows anyone to download some rare tech books with a source of DRM which requires me to deal with something not exactly reading. Just look at those websites - who is that visitor of libgen website who needs those animations?
  - forgotpwd16 2y ago
    GP asked a Netflix for books. Not fare to compare but it's what was asked.
  - whimsicalism 2y ago
    yeah obviously libgen is way better, it’s what i use. but i was just answering the question
pta2002 2y ago
That's the entire concept of a public library.
- bityard 2y ago
  My library even lets me check out books from Kobo e-reader.
- kajecounterhack 2y ago
  Easily is the operative word. Blockbuster was easy but you had to drive there -- netflix is easier. Libraries similarly require driving (unless you use overdrive / similar) but piracy is easier for many as well. Books just haven't found their spotify/netflix; the kindle store is basically 2009 itunes.
  - zamadatix 2y ago
    I don't think many realize how much libraries have via internet ("overdrive / similar") these days. You don't even have to show up in person to sign up at my local library. Libgen and the like tend to just have more on hand though, and that's the big differentiator in usability IMO. There are things your local library just isn't going to have a copy of but libgen will. After that happens once, why bother with the library again? Outside of "it's legal" or "I find more moral" type concepts there tends not to be a strong reason.
eimrine 2y ago
> like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books. Libgen is not Netflix for books, it is thepiratebay for books. Libgen is not helpful in discovering more books because if to judge about those literature which is abundant on Libgen, the technical one, what allows user to discover some books on Libgen is only another books or your interest to specific scientist or field. (I know there are a lot of fiction materials on Libgen such as comicses but all I use to read is science books or at least some non-fiction, so my opinion may be biased).
zozbot234 2y ago
> Is there a legal alternative? I would really really want something like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books. Plenty of books (and other written works, such as serial publications) are in the public domain, hence fully legal from a copyright POV. However discovery is still a major problem: many works in the public domain are still far from being easily findable or accessible online. (Even then, it's worth keeping in mind that the books people generally think of as the 'Greatest Books of the Western Canon' are, by and large, in the public domain, and that already is more books than you could feasibly read in a lifetime.)
- thfuran 2y ago
  Many but not remotely enough books are in the public domain. Copyright terms are now ridiculously long—the last Sherlock Holmes stories only just entered public domain.
mmooss 2y ago
The Internet Archive's 'Lending Library' does this, but suffered a major blow in the recent copyright case. It's really a big advance in human knowledge, and works as simply as you say (you need to use their online viewer or an Adobe DRM client).
user90131313 2y ago
It would be very hard to profit from that? Because at most people would read few books a month. How much would they pay for it? Competition is literally libraries for free. Music or Movies dont't have free competitors. There would be long term tech cost, 100s of employees and all. The math is very hard even for long term.

Is there a legal alternative to illegal projects like Libgen? I would really really want something like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

whimsicalism 2y ago

libby? hoopla? also kindle unlimited

eimrine 2y ago
That are not for technical books, and Amazon used to be famous for deleting a book from used's devices. It is not exactly fare to compale an honest source of technical books which allows anyone to download some rare tech books with a source of DRM which requires me to deal with something not exactly reading. Just look at those websites - who is that visitor of libgen website who needs those animations?
- forgotpwd16 2y ago
  GP asked a Netflix for books. Not fare to compare but it's what was asked.
- whimsicalism 2y ago
  yeah obviously libgen is way better, it’s what i use. but i was just answering the question

pta2002 2y ago

That's the entire concept of a public library.

bityard 2y ago
My library even lets me check out books from Kobo e-reader.
kajecounterhack 2y ago
Easily is the operative word. Blockbuster was easy but you had to drive there -- netflix is easier. Libraries similarly require driving (unless you use overdrive / similar) but piracy is easier for many as well. Books just haven't found their spotify/netflix; the kindle store is basically 2009 itunes.
- zamadatix 2y ago
  I don't think many realize how much libraries have via internet ("overdrive / similar") these days. You don't even have to show up in person to sign up at my local library. Libgen and the like tend to just have more on hand though, and that's the big differentiator in usability IMO. There are things your local library just isn't going to have a copy of but libgen will. After that happens once, why bother with the library again? Outside of "it's legal" or "I find more moral" type concepts there tends not to be a strong reason.

eimrine 2y ago

> like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books. Libgen is not Netflix for books, it is thepiratebay for books. Libgen is not helpful in discovering more books because if to judge about those literature which is abundant on Libgen, the technical one, what allows user to discover some books on Libgen is only another books or your interest to specific scientist or field. (I know there are a lot of fiction materials on Libgen such as comicses but all I use to read is science books or at least some non-fiction, so my opinion may be biased).

zozbot234 2y ago

> Is there a legal alternative? I would really really want something like Netflix for books, where I can easily discover and read books. Plenty of books (and other written works, such as serial publications) are in the public domain, hence fully legal from a copyright POV. However discovery is still a major problem: many works in the public domain are still far from being easily findable or accessible online. (Even then, it's worth keeping in mind that the books people generally think of as the 'Greatest Books of the Western Canon' are, by and large, in the public domain, and that already is more books than you could feasibly read in a lifetime.)

thfuran 2y ago
Many but not remotely enough books are in the public domain. Copyright terms are now ridiculously long—the last Sherlock Holmes stories only just entered public domain.

mmooss 2y ago

The Internet Archive's 'Lending Library' does this, but suffered a major blow in the recent copyright case. It's really a big advance in human knowledge, and works as simply as you say (you need to use their online viewer or an Adobe DRM client).

user90131313 2y ago

It would be very hard to profit from that? Because at most people would read few books a month. How much would they pay for it? Competition is literally libraries for free. Music or Movies dont't have free competitors. There would be long term tech cost, 100s of employees and all. The math is very hard even for long term.