On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:36:49 +0000, retard wrote: > Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:03:29 -0400, Steven Schveighoffer wrote: > >> On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:36:44 -0400, retard <r...@tard.com.invalid> wrote: >> >>> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:35:32 +0400, Stanislav Blinov wrote: >>> >>>> Author may not lose anything, but she actually doesn't gain what she >>>> could, so yes, this is stealing. Pirates steal profit (and often >>>> prestiege as well), profit that may have paid off spent time, nerves >>>> and money. And torrent user is not guaranteed to buy the book if >>>> *able* to download a .pdf as well. It doesn't stimulate authors to >>>> share more of their thoughts and knowledge when they see all their >>>> efforts are simply taken away without any kind of thanks. A book is >>>> not a car, you don't need to read it ALL before buying, and most >>>> modern authors and publishers provide samples so potential reader may >>>> see if the book is worth buying (btw, a whole chapter of TDPL was >>>> recently provided for all willing), so I don't see any reasons for >>>> advertisement here. >>> >>> Do you think the libraries also steal from the authors? If I can't >>> afford a book or don't find it important enough, I can ask the local >>> library to order it and later read it for free. This also encourages >>> other member of the target audience to loan the book without >>> paying--the libraries have lists of most recent books and all kinds of >>> enthusiastics subscribe to those lists. This is also a great way to >>> introduce new readers to a topic. I've noticed that books I order get >>> lots of attention after they're available from the shelves. >> >> No, libraries don't steal, they buy their copies or are given books >> that other people have bought. If I lent you my copy of TDPL then it >> wouldn't be stealing either, someone paid for that book. If you have a >> copy of a book from the library, then nobody else has that copy. This >> falls under fair-use. You are allowed to transfer your copy of IP to >> someone else (despite what EULA's try to enforce), or lend it to them >> as long as you are not also using it. There is a difference between >> copying and lending. > > Assume the library bought the damn book and someone always provides > copies of the books online. In that case it really doesn't make any > difference financially if I lent it or downloaded from the web and > destroyed the copy. In either case the author gets as much/little money > assuming that reading the book doesn't break it too badly. Those people > who reason about the problem this way wouldn't buy the book in any case.
Sure it makes a difference. Say I lend the book from the library. While I have it, you and a lot of other people go to the library and ask for the same book. The library people go "man, this sure is a popular book, we better get some more copies". Author makes more money. -Lars