3 ms·

This story while interesting is just a creative way to draw more attention and get people to buy the book. "In one more week I was going to be a millionaire."

by larrys 14y ago

This story while interesting is just a creative way to draw more attention and get people to buy the book. "In one more week I was going to be a millionaire." We don't know how long of a period it was on the best seller list at all. It almost certainly made it to the list because of activity following mention (as the author points out) "the story went viral and was featured in places like Forbes, Time magazine and NPR’s Weekend Edition" which had nothing to do with the quality of the writing but more of a David and Goliath human interest story. So what we have is a book that made a list because of a cease and desist letter which got it major media attention which created a concentrated interest in the book. The takeaway from this is that he made roughly $3 per book for a book that is sold by amazon at $14.95. (Also the kindle edition is less and I don't know how that factors into the count obviously.) Also to find creative ways to get publicity for your creative vessel. Pissing off a large company is certainly one way to do that. Then after the attention that generates dies down simply write another angle about how well you didn't do and get more publicity. I didn't buy the book but I did look at it on Amazon. Obviously the Salon story and links to it will help him sell more books.

revelation 14y ago
And he didn't even change the cover after the C&D: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1621050203 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1621050203 Maybe they should have sent something else than a strongly worded letter.
- larrys 14y ago
  I just read the letter from JD and there are many fascinating things about the way it was written including the offer to pay a reasonable amount to re-do the cover. This is definitely a letter that, prior to the Internet, would never have been written. It goes out of it's way to not appear to be a "dick" and appeal almost in a friend like way to make the person receiving want to do "the right thing" by not making a threat. I've never seen a letter written like this in this situation (having received them and seen many over the years.) I wouldn't have let an opportunity like this pass. I would have seen what JD would pay to redo the cover, let them do it, and garnered even more publicity. And maybe pocketed some money by subcontracting the labor. The cover design isn't that critical and the extra press mention would most likely drive more sales. As only one example they could have said "it will cost me $5000 to redo" found someone to do it for much much less and pocketed the difference AND gotten more publicity. And I've done things like this is the past with large corporations they will write a check to dispose of a problem they won't say "um we want to have our artist do it". If the price is reasonable they would just pay. (The only question is how much I would have started much higher than $5k that is arbitrary..)
  - mcintyre1994 14y ago
    I expect when it came to money actually changing hands, or the deadline of that C&D the tone would change a bit. They'd either have their own interpretation of the vague phrasing of "reasonable amount", or more likely want to see invoices.
  - macchina 14y ago
    The producers of Warhammer 40k ought to take note.[1] "Trademark Bullying" has totally gotten out of hand.[2] Brands have a duty to protect their rights, but a letter like this is really all that's necessary. Good on Jack Daniels. There is no reason to send indie publishers to the poorhouse over trifling infringement. 1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5176820 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5176820 2. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/stupid-lawyer-tricks-and-government-officials-who-are-helping-them https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/stupid-lawyer-tricks-a...
- jld 14y ago
  They did redesign the cover: http://amzn.to/1436x0J http://amzn.to/1436x0J You can read more about how that story ended here: http://brokenpianoforpresident.com/2012/07/19/jack-daniels-lawsuit-the-full-scoop/ http://brokenpianoforpresident.com/2012/07/19/jack-daniels-l... <blockquote>In case you’re wondering, no, my publisher, Lazy Fascist Press, will not be taking them up on their offer. We’re proudly independent and don’t need any of that sweet corporate booze money to redo the cover.</blockquote>
- vl 14y ago
  As requested, they did change cover on the reprint and digital version, you are linking to the first print.

by larrys 14y ago

revelation 14y ago

And he didn't even change the cover after the C&D: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1621050203 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1621050203 Maybe they should have sent something else than a strongly worded letter.

larrys 14y ago
I just read the letter from JD and there are many fascinating things about the way it was written including the offer to pay a reasonable amount to re-do the cover. This is definitely a letter that, prior to the Internet, would never have been written. It goes out of it's way to not appear to be a "dick" and appeal almost in a friend like way to make the person receiving want to do "the right thing" by not making a threat. I've never seen a letter written like this in this situation (having received them and seen many over the years.) I wouldn't have let an opportunity like this pass. I would have seen what JD would pay to redo the cover, let them do it, and garnered even more publicity. And maybe pocketed some money by subcontracting the labor. The cover design isn't that critical and the extra press mention would most likely drive more sales. As only one example they could have said "it will cost me $5000 to redo" found someone to do it for much much less and pocketed the difference AND gotten more publicity. And I've done things like this is the past with large corporations they will write a check to dispose of a problem they won't say "um we want to have our artist do it". If the price is reasonable they would just pay. (The only question is how much I would have started much higher than $5k that is arbitrary..)
- mcintyre1994 14y ago
  I expect when it came to money actually changing hands, or the deadline of that C&D the tone would change a bit. They'd either have their own interpretation of the vague phrasing of "reasonable amount", or more likely want to see invoices.
- macchina 14y ago
  The producers of Warhammer 40k ought to take note.[1] "Trademark Bullying" has totally gotten out of hand.[2] Brands have a duty to protect their rights, but a letter like this is really all that's necessary. Good on Jack Daniels. There is no reason to send indie publishers to the poorhouse over trifling infringement. 1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5176820 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5176820 2. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/stupid-lawyer-tricks-and-government-officials-who-are-helping-them https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/stupid-lawyer-tricks-a...
jld 14y ago
They did redesign the cover: http://amzn.to/1436x0J http://amzn.to/1436x0J You can read more about how that story ended here: http://brokenpianoforpresident.com/2012/07/19/jack-daniels-lawsuit-the-full-scoop/ http://brokenpianoforpresident.com/2012/07/19/jack-daniels-l... <blockquote>In case you’re wondering, no, my publisher, Lazy Fascist Press, will not be taking them up on their offer. We’re proudly independent and don’t need any of that sweet corporate booze money to redo the cover.</blockquote>
vl 14y ago
As requested, they did change cover on the reprint and digital version, you are linking to the first print.