As readers, do you look at the fine print before you buy an ebook? Do readers even care?
Pretty much every epub has a notice on their website telling us that we cannot share the ebooks that we buy. They go on about it being illegal and they list all the reasons why ebook sharing is a faux pas. Some of them are that ebooks are well priced so there is no need to share. It takes money away from the authors. It’s immoral. That first one kills me. Ebooks are well priced! That’s news to me. Lately I have been paying the same as, or more for ebooks than print books.
Some epubs go as far as to say that they have and will prosecute ebook thieves. Ouch. Thieves is a harsh word to use, I think. It’s not the same as pirating satellite channels. Or is it? A lawyer I spoke with (who does not specialize in copy right law) had this to say.
“You bought the book with that limitation, you violated it. However, the proving it would be incredibly difficult. Private transfers between people would be almost impossible to prove.”
Do epubs really enforce it? If they do, should the person who posts an entire word for word ebook on a public webpage, be treated the same as 2 friends who are helping each other out?
For instance…
“Hey, I just read this GREAT book, check it out. Here is the download.”
or
” I’m short on cash, I know you bought (insert ebook). Can I read it, please?”
or
“Hey, you send me (insert ebook) and I’ll send you (insert ebook).
I think it’s safe to say that many readers feel that if they pay for a book, whether in print or eformat, that they should be able to do what they want with it. I understand that. Other readers will say that it’s not fair to the author, as it brings down the number of sales they get so they don’t get as much as they would have if the book had been bought rather than shared. I can understand that, too. An author would much rather see her books being bought instead of passed around. I know if I was an author I would want that.
So, I guess it depends on individual morals. Unless a reader is personally being effected in a negative way from sharing ebooks, then I don’t think it will be that big of an issue for people who want to share books with their friends.
Thank you for asking me to do this guest review. It was really fun.
For your reading pleasure, here are 2 free romantic downloads. Enjoy.
Use coupon code “AreFree001” for a copy of Forbidden: The Claim, by Samantha Sommersby
A free download of Michelle Jerott’s book called Absolute Trouble
Chantal
Reading All Night Long
Excellent Topic, Chantal.
I’m honestly not sure what the difference between eBooks and Print books is when it comes to sharing. And like your lawyer friend, I don’t understand how they’ll prosecute if they do in fact catch someone.
I guess I’m of the feeling..I paid for it, why can’t I share it if I want? And more importantly, how many times have I been given a book and thought, “That was awesome!” then rushed out to buy their entire backlist? All the time. I would think in that case it would help the author, not hurt her. Wouldn’t you?
Indeed great topic Chantal 😀
really interesting… I too understand both sides, but as you said, you buy the e-book and it’s yours… you should be able to do whatever you want with it.
I can’t tell you how many times that’s happened to me, Chantal. Like when I get a book from the library for FREE and love it, so I end up buying 15 books by that author.
I’m with Holly. I don’t see what the difference is between sharing print books and e books.
Great post Chantal. 🙂
I can’t read e-books. I spend all day in front of a computer… either I’m emailing a colleague, writing a lesson plan, or working on my novel (sadly, not the latter).
When I read books, it’s to relax. And I don’t relax in front of computers.
So… moot point for me, but very interesting post!
Holly, that has happened to me. I was gifted a book that I loved so much, that I went out and bought every book I could find available for download from the author. I would not have ever bought that first book at all, so the fact that it was given to me, and I loved it enough to buy a whole shit load is good for both the author and the publisher.
I’m of the same mind as everyone else above but then I have a different way of thinking of things. I’m also one of those people who gets pissed if someone says I’m stealing music. What the difference from recording from the radio or swapping music with a friend. It’s only when the people with huge amounts of money start feeling crushed that you get the whole ‘don’t steal music cause it’s wrong’.
Okay, that’s clearly a different rant but I don’t see the difference in sharing an e-book or buying a used book. In both cases the author doesn’t get the sale and like others have said, you get me with that first book and I’m your gushing fangirl.
My reading twin and I are sharing the cost of a couple of trade size books because neither of us had tried the author and the idea of spending 20 bucks on one book was intimidating. Knowing that you could spend 20 and get two (she would buy one and I would buy one and then ship them to each other) makes it easier to try a new author. (Sarah McCarty in case you are wondering – up here it’s 18 bucks a book). With that in mind, if SM’s book turns out to be a keeper then I’ll be marching my butt over to my bookstore and buying out her backlist and haunting her website for her lastest releases.
The good news for e-book authors is I refuse to read a book on a computer so they don’t have to worry about me 😉
cindyS
Agreed. I feel the same way – I share my print books with friends all the time. I’d just as soon share my ebooks as well.
I think that an author would rather have someone read their book through sharing than not not read it at all, frankly. It’s kind of the same debate as UBS vs new in a way.
Great topic, Chantal!
Recently I have noticed that ebooks are pretty expensive. I’m not going to pay for an ebook when it is in print for a dollar more.
I think publishers of ebooks have to decide if it’s worth the risk…having an ebook definitely makes it easier to share. OTOH, the author’s name is getting out there.
For me, this is comparative to my husband downloading cds. It’s hard enough to prosecute cases like that, I’d like to see epubs go after people that share ebooks.
Kate and Cindy,
That’s the beauty of having an eReader. You don’t have to read in front of the computer. I can’t do that, either. But the convenience of having multiple books with me at all times, but only having one device is fantastic.
I was thinking more about this last night as I was searching my many book shelves for something old to read (sometimes you’re just in the mood for a re-read, you know). I have the entire back list for J.D. Robb, Christine Feehan, Lisa Kleypas, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught and many, many others. I’d say at least 1/2 of those were gifted to me (usually by Casee). Well, the first books were, anyway. Then, because I liked them so much, I bought their backlist.
I have over 2800 books. I probably wouldn’t have even half that number if someone *coughcaseecough* hadn’t loaned or gifted me a book by them.
It’s just good business.
This is a great topic Chantal. A couple of months ago, someone I know from a board wanted me to read an author’s ebooks so she sent them to me. I didn’t ask, mind you, but I still felt like I had ripped the author off. Now, in fairness, I did buy more of the series and I did post a commentary about them on my blog, which was picked up by the author’s epublisher.
But I still felt like I was stealing from both the author AND epub. Even though I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash had I been sent print books instead! But then again, I feel guilty when I buy from Fictionwise instead of the epub because I don’t think the author gets paid as much when I buy from them.
*sigh* I wish I could explain WHY I’m like that! Maybe I’ve been brainwashed by all those scary notices. Or maybe because, up until recently, ebooks were so inexpensive that I couldn’t begrudge them the couple of bucks they charged me. With the rising prices of ebooks, however, I doubt if I’m going to fret over sharing much in the future.
Great post Chantal, and I kind of agree with everyone: How is it different from sharing a print book? And how can it be a bad thing if it makes you buy more of the author’s books?
This comment has been removed by the author.
My thoughts mirror those before who have said, how can it be a bad thing if it gets the new to me authors names out there and if I share it with someone, if they like the book, they’ll probably buy the authors other books, in turn putting money into the author’s pocket, so what the hell is the big deal?