Are the pirates going to ruin publishing? The problem posed by e-book piracy is not new. It’s as old a publishing
I don’t advocate e-book piracy, but it’s time we got real about the effects. Publishers and other purveyors of old media have a lot invested in a system that paid well for them over the last Century or so. Authors gave up control of their work and the publishers dictated how the we bought and read books (along with recorded music, broadcasting and any media). Since digital media hit the scene, they’ve been whining that their industry is doomed.. and quite likely it’s never going to be what it was in the 20th Century.
Will E-Book Piracy Ruin Publishing?
Not likely. As the price of duplication moves toward zero, there will be some who can’t depend on a system that worked for them in the past. If they haven’t read the signs over the last 30 years that digital content is making a perfect copy for next to nothing, and they are relying on printed books, they going to be hurting. But even if the big publishers completely went away, the books that have been published are here to stay, and wider distribution is good for the careers of authors.
Historical Proof of What E-Book Piracy Could Do
Almost as soon as there was publishing there was piracy… and publishers have been complaining ever since. In 1706 Edward Ward wrote:
Property of their Copies, has been of late, not only a Damage to the Trade in Generat, but a great Discouragement to Authors; for there are fo many Piratizing Printers, who lye upon the Catch, that no Saleable Poem or Pamphlet, of Twelve-pence, or Six-pence Price, can be started into the World, but the next Day yon shall have it Bastardized in White-Fryars, or Little-Britain; to the Injury of the Book-seller, and the Scandal of the Author, have it Bawld about for a penny or Two pence, nay, sometimes for a Half-penny, in every Gossipping Alley, amongst Porters Wives and Basket-Women, which we have great hopes will be prevented for the future, in the next Sessions of Parliament, and then we may hope for more of the fame Authors Writings.
This became the basis for copyright law petitions and all the laws that followed. But what of the poor authors who were damaged? In “Stealth of Nations: The Global Rise of The Informal Economy” Robert Neuwirth describes how these low priced books spread fast:
“an honest look at the history of trade shows that piracy wasn’t just a form of trade; it was also a potent force that drove the growth of arts and culture. In particular, piracy helped expand literacy and impacted the Western intellectual tradition in some startling ways”
Neuwirth tells the story of a time when all commerce was assumed to be infected with piracy and how the raw capitalism benefited from rules.
But for how long?
Today, there are works that are held back to protect a copyright for the creator who has long since retired, huge disputes and huge corporations trying to hold on to their cash cows.
Some governance makes sense, but does the piracy end progress? Today, authors use books as calling cards, a front piece for business that benefits when more see it. As one of these authors, I don’t want someone to steal my work, but I do like to see that readers who can benefit get it.
Publishing isn’t going away. It IS going to to keep changing. In some ways don’t we all benefit from change.. even e-book piracy?
Scott Bergman November 5, 2012 at 11:12 pm
I was just kind of wondering if you had any specific examples of e-book piracy?
Maybe my view is too narrow, but I would think in terms of Kindle books and Nook books piracy and even sharing of books would be very much reduced.
Have a great day!
warren November 20, 2012 at 9:23 pm
ebook piracy would be the copying and distribution of digital files without permission or payment to the rights holder.
Harold Gardner November 5, 2012 at 11:20 pm
The entire intellectual property area is a mess and must be reformed. Unfortunately the only folks really making money in copyright and patent law are attorneys.
warren November 20, 2012 at 9:22 pm
The concept of IP needs attorneys to fight.
I hold that there is value in ideas well beyond what can be bought and sold. Property rights have always been a cornerstone in the development of civilization. That’s certainly been true of real property, I don’t know about intellectual property. I can think of so many examples where copyright and patents have slowed progress and protected the strong from the weak
Joshua Cohen November 6, 2012 at 7:01 am
Great article!
andres November 8, 2012 at 2:59 am
I’m sorry Warren, but I couldn’t disagree more. We shouldn’t confuse piracy with digital content. They are definitely not the same thing.
“the books that have been published are here to stay, and wider distribution is good for the careers of authors.” I’m afraid this is not true if that wider distribution is “free of charge”. Authors don’t need a wide spread. Authors need to pay rent (or a mortgage), and food in the fridge, and electricity, gas and water. And those things, my friend, cost money.
The impact of digital content is great, and we need new business models so that publishing firms (or whatever they will become in the future) can help authors reach people. But these authors need an income, or they will have to find a job in the pub next door instead of writing books/making films/creating music.
It’s a dangerous line to confuse piracy with digital content, as a 100% pirate market would mean the end of content (digital or not)
warren November 20, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Piracy is copying (usually with the intent of sale)
Digital is anything with 1′s and 0′s..
I don’t see any confusion.
Your idea that “authors need income” as a reason we need to do something has an emotional appeal, but doesn’t jibe with anything I’ve seen as motivation for publishers