tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post4618793440752653639..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: Publicity or #Piracy by Andrea DowningAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-78548882562695078862018-02-10T09:45:17.936-05:002018-02-10T09:45:17.936-05:00Excellent topic. The following goes on the title p...Excellent topic. The following goes on the title page of all my ebooks:<br /><br />This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your online dealer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.<br /><br />I think I might add something similar to the warning that the movies include. I work hard for my books. If I want to give away copies, that's my choice. I resent when that choice is taken away from me, along with my royalties.<br />Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-45595412028026129182018-02-08T16:49:14.006-05:002018-02-08T16:49:14.006-05:00Betsy, I believe TWRP has been fairly helpful abou...Betsy, I believe TWRP has been fairly helpful about piracy--or at least insomuch as having a sample 'take down' notice and so on. But it is left to us. About the unsuspecting readers getting crap, I'm in an anthology where one review on Amazon gave us one star, complaining that several stories were unfinished etc. As it wasn't marked as an Amazon verified purchase, I'm now wondering if she'd got the book on a piracy site. Obviously, this was a major annoyance--she buys on a piracy site, can't read the complete book, then lowers our star rating by giving it a bad review because of her own stupidity!Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-70587306290451153172018-02-08T16:45:02.356-05:002018-02-08T16:45:02.356-05:00Vonnie, well well well--I had no idea Nora had tak...Vonnie, well well well--I had no idea Nora had taken this on! That's an eye-opener. I guess that's it, then, for getting the Feds involved--they're more interested in film than in literature! But don't get a heart attack, please, over that 400K--we're all too fond of you and your books.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-90390545475527030212018-02-08T15:21:09.868-05:002018-02-08T15:21:09.868-05:00I've seen my books "sold" on unautho...I've seen my books "sold" on unauthorized sites since my first was in print in 2013. (Yeah, I'm a relative newbie.) I reported it to my publisher who blew me off. Small publishers should be more mindful of these things, I thought. So, the next time my Google alert told me a book was available, I went to see. The book was a "pdf," scanned from a print copy, and incomplete. I was less angry about losing the royalties than I was about unsuspecting readers getting a piece of crap. Again, my publisher wasn't concerned, until one of his books was pirated. As they say, the box was open and Pandora was pissed off!!!Betsy Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871010122475160477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-54216050867768998692018-02-08T13:42:20.296-05:002018-02-08T13:42:20.296-05:00I'm late again. A couple years ago THE Nora, w...I'm late again. A couple years ago THE Nora, with an entourage of authors, went to either the House of Representatives or the Senate and spoke about book piracy. What it was costing authors. In typical male fashion, they nodded their heads, patted her on the head, and sent her on her merry way. Nothing was ever done. <br /><br />Trying to close down piracy sites is like playing "whack-a-mole." Bash one and two more pop up.<br /><br />As for the speaker, if she's earning 400,000+ a year, why WOUKD she care if a few were pirated? My heart is still double timing over that. I'm thrilled if I earn more than I get in social security. A pox to all who doubt the power of a good writer. Vonnie Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04636934830795471572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-14748854126837481532018-02-08T13:01:12.832-05:002018-02-08T13:01:12.832-05:00Alicia, I agree with you right down the line. Or m...Alicia, I agree with you right down the line. Or maybe you've agreed with me. I hardly have enough time for promo, never mind chasing pirate sites.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-71494530237558495622018-02-08T12:58:46.783-05:002018-02-08T12:58:46.783-05:00Alison, as I said above, yes, I've stopped cha...Alison, as I said above, yes, I've stopped chasing them. But it still rankles! But as for the karma, I think the ones who are hurt are the readers, unsuspecting in some cases, who think they're on a legitimate site. After all, there are no signs saying these are piracy sites. The bad guys just move on.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-51254024917187849662018-02-08T12:56:24.574-05:002018-02-08T12:56:24.574-05:00Charlotte, you're right, as was Rolynn regardi...Charlotte, you're right, as was Rolynn regarding RWA. But true to themselves, they are more concerned with traditionally published authors.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-52905492275527661622018-02-08T12:54:28.309-05:002018-02-08T12:54:28.309-05:00Good post. I hate piracy, and I don't look at ...Good post. I hate piracy, and I don't look at it as promo, because anyone who is downloading pirated books is not likely to ever buy one. Why would they? Here are my thoughts, in general...<br /><br />I would love the same warnings and threats as movies get. It's only fair<br /><br />It probably won't stop people<br /><br />I don't 'worry' about piracy, even though I hate it<br /><br />Reason 1 is that there is nothing I can do about it and I don't have time to bother with it<br /><br />Reason 2 is I don't feel like it is literally taking money away from me, because I don't feel like the person would buy my book if it wasn't available on a pirate site. They're just looking for freebies.<br /><br />I love used book stores and agree with Jannine about the reason I don't have an issue with them<br /><br />Great post, it certainly brought out some valid opinions. Great deal on your book, too. Going to buy it now! Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-9851530649930302882018-02-08T12:38:01.762-05:002018-02-08T12:38:01.762-05:00When ebook piracy first became a known issue sever...When ebook piracy first became a known issue several years ago, I got quite alarmed. I've since decided for my own peace of mind to basically ignore it. You could make yourself crazy tracking down sites and sending out take-down notices, and probably to no effect. Internet theft is so wildly rampant, we're far from the only victims. I can only hope the freeloaders who download books from those sites get what they deserve. Karma, baby, Karma.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-85717161580385339822018-02-08T11:17:46.167-05:002018-02-08T11:17:46.167-05:00RWA should be taking this issue on. Power in numbe...RWA should be taking this issue on. Power in numbers.Charlotteoshayauthor.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17994548860606367251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-58293750162107534062018-02-08T11:09:50.266-05:002018-02-08T11:09:50.266-05:00Jannine, thanks for that view. I don't waste ...Jannine, thanks for that view. I don't waste my time trying to send out take-down notices, but as I've said, the thought of someone else taking control of my book annoys me. Second hand sales don't bother me either; I've certainly been guilty of buying a cheaper edition i.e. second hand when the new book is too expensive IMO. Your publisher probably feels, as I said above, you take down one book and another just pops up in its place.But I think there are people who just don't realize the site is piracy, don't think about getting a virus or losing their cc--some of these sites look very inviting.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-83480176704406165772018-02-08T11:03:28.675-05:002018-02-08T11:03:28.675-05:00Rolynn, you have a very laid-back attitude about t...Rolynn, you have a very laid-back attitude about this, and I have to say I agree in that I haven't got the time to start chasing these b------ds. And that's another annoyance: there's so little we can do. they may take down one book but another pops up in its place.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-9598674311238495782018-02-08T11:01:02.097-05:002018-02-08T11:01:02.097-05:00Brenda, please let us know what you find out about...Brenda, please let us know what you find out about that. I seem to remember someone somewhere putting a no piracy notice in the front of the book. But I seem to think it's the copyright notice that is supposed to be sufficient--we really, IMHO, need something larger and more prominent. When you watch a film, you can't even fast-forward through the warning.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-66123431371904349532018-02-08T10:59:34.279-05:002018-02-08T10:59:34.279-05:00Who would risk downloading a book by an unknown (o...Who would risk downloading a book by an unknown (or barely known) author from a site that might A) steal your credit card, or B) infect you with a virus? Just because your book is on the site doesn't mean people are reading it. I'm not a fan of book piracy, but I honestly don't think a bunch of people are reading mine without paying. Maybe if you have a name and your pub sells your eBook for over $10 people would take the risk. I don't see my publisher doing much to stop it, so they must not be too concerned. As for used books, I always went to used book stores and never thought anything about it. It's not that much different than a library. One person bought the book and is sharing it. You can "lend" your Kindle books to people, too. On the one hand, I want every single sale I can muster up! On the other, how is selling a used book different than selling the bunk-bed your kid outgrew or buying something in an antique store? The original manufacturer is not getting paid. Recycling goods and sharing books has been going on for years. The hope is that someone who picks up that used book at a yard sale will like it so much they'll buy the next one you write new because they don't want to wait to get it. Then there are warning labels telling you something is a crime. Does that speed limit sign stop you from speeding? Probably not. If someone is going to copy the movie they rented to their own DVD, I doubt the warning label deters them. My two cents. Honestly, I don't think or worry about piracy. I'd rather put that energy into trying to reach people (any people!) who might actually buy my book. Sorry for the novel. Apparently I had quite a few thoughts on the subject!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047728297429025804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-5569261252185495492018-02-08T10:58:26.762-05:002018-02-08T10:58:26.762-05:00RE--I don't know for sure, but I don't thi...RE--I don't know for sure, but I don't think so. Anyone else out there?Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-75930888485320837722018-02-08T10:57:32.579-05:002018-02-08T10:57:32.579-05:00Patti, I would think most people are too dang lazy...Patti, I would think most people are too dang lazy to go to a library, order a book they want ('cos, lord knows, there's not a lot of small press stuff there) and wait for it. That's one problem I see. But you're also right about Amazon--as I said, I don't think these readers become life-long fans; they just move on to the next free pirated book.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-17732286255271538682018-02-08T10:54:22.164-05:002018-02-08T10:54:22.164-05:00Margo, there are booksellers on the streets of NYC...Margo, there are booksellers on the streets of NYC--and I'd imagine other cities--that do that ripping off covers business; apparently it then becomes lawful to sell them. But, yes, it's still stealing, no matter what the financial lossAndrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-68627854471355301282018-02-08T10:29:02.274-05:002018-02-08T10:29:02.274-05:00RWA should be taking this problem on big time, but...RWA should be taking this problem on big time, but I'm not holding my breath, because the pirating business is squirrelly and pfishy. Andi's right in that people who steal (or organize ways to sell stolen goods), are not our avid readers/fans. We'll never learn what makes them tick...for sure, we won't get them on our newsletter list. Here's my sarcastic view: I'm not making any money selling my books so they probably aren't either. The turkeys will probably move on to selling something more lucrative like dildos (I guess Amazon sells more of these than anything else!) I don't have the time to fool with these thieves, but I wish someone did!Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-2590624588210925552018-02-08T10:19:50.799-05:002018-02-08T10:19:50.799-05:00Andrea, now that you've brought this up, I'...Andrea, now that you've brought this up, I'm going to ask my publisher why they don't put that wording in the books. I should think anyone publishing a book could, even self pubbed, if the books are copyrighted. I don't think it will stop piracy but it might slow it a bit.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-1774389422059422322018-02-08T10:18:06.984-05:002018-02-08T10:18:06.984-05:00Robin, used bookstores also drive me crazy. No roy...Robin, used bookstores also drive me crazy. No royalties there. With music, if a song is played on the radio of if another singer covers a song that is not his, there are supposedly fees paid to the artist. I don't suppose there is any way to track used books. On the one hand, they do get your name out. BUT do the people who buy used books go put out the money for new books. I have serious doubts there. Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-385471476624912122018-02-08T09:49:46.761-05:002018-02-08T09:49:46.761-05:00I've always wondered if author's see any r...I've always wondered if author's see any residual from books sold in used bookstores? Does anyone know?remullinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803012686654154333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-67574069896181883702018-02-08T09:44:08.429-05:002018-02-08T09:44:08.429-05:00Good post , Andi. I never really worried about pir...Good post , Andi. I never really worried about pirating as a real threat until one of the authors at my publisher alerted the group and suggested we sign on to a site that would find your books and then "blast" them off those pirate sites. When I looked I was SHOCKED to find how many copies of my titles were out there. I had PAGES of sites giving away my books! It took me a good long time to go to each one and blast my books. As you say, some of those sites didn't actually have any books, but more sites than not were giving away my stuff. I did find one long five star review which I did copy and paste into my editorial reviews, but I don't see it as publicity at all. I don't think readers who are picking up free books from an obvious pirate are going to run over to Amazon and buy my other titles, nor do I think they're talking it up at their book clubs. There are places you can get free books and feel good about it--they're called libraries. In the age of Amazon it's too hard for an author to make a buck anyway, so stop buying and selling pirated copies! Bottom line is as you said in above comment " I can't help but wonder why we, as authors, don't seem to count."Patti Sherry-Crewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07239195135892487184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-265238920721713852018-02-08T09:40:17.695-05:002018-02-08T09:40:17.695-05:00Acquiring something without lawfully paying for it...Acquiring something without lawfully paying for it is stealing, plain and simple. I suppose it’s a nice spin to consider it publicity. But, pirating is not just limited to on line, ebooks. Think used book stores. The author gets no royalty from the sale of their used book. I remember something about the covers being ripped off trade paperbacks and they were sold with no royalty provided to the author as well. Unfortunately, piracy is not something that’s easily prosecuted. It’s just an unfortunate occurrence that, as Brenda says, just isn’t right.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-40176395787239884172018-02-08T09:30:54.569-05:002018-02-08T09:30:54.569-05:00Brenda, I can't help but wonder why we, as aut...Brenda, I can't help but wonder why we, as authors, don't seem to count--why they have those notices at the start of films yet we have nothing in the front of our books. It would appear because we're too 'small' to bother about--and that certainly isn't right.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.com