Piracy might work positively for popularity based products, pop stuff. But for specialized stuff you want to be able to keep it to yourself. Like a fisherman could decide not to sell his/her fishes if the price is too low, IP Laws enable content creators to do that. We want to nurture providers of solutions just like we give thanks to people who have helped us. Thats the fundamental of a working society IMO.
I had some arguments with my mother about physical books and virtual books (ebooks, no stealing). I'm all for physical books because I need the act of pageturning. I tried reading an ebook, but something was missing. As I said, the pageturning, then the smell of new book, opened for the first time, holding it in your hands... the awesome cover... of course you can look at the cover of an ebook as well, but it's not the same. I like to touch things. Things like bookcovers :D
Great video. A lot of libraries in the US (and maybe other areas) are also starting to lend ebooks through services like Overdrive, so for many titles you can borrow them to read on your Kindle or other e-reader without stealing. The libraries do put a time limit on the borrow & have a limited number of copies of each book (like with a real book), but it's still convenient, free, and accessible...and legal/ethical.
I agree with what you are saying but I also agree with @ledieppe - you are using an "idea" from Disney & stated you are not making a profit from it so with that logic your books can be downloaded just as long as it's not for profit?
@readwriteread she only quoted one part of the fair use act, the part about not making a profit from it. there are other parts of it that are violated by ppl that illegally DL books. not only is she not making a profit from it, Disney is also not suffering from fewer consumers because of her use of the song snippet. each and every single book that people illegally download is taking away from the money that most writers need to sustain themselves.
Obviously you've never dealt with Disney Lawyers before. Yo Ho, Yo Ho... they're the reason that copyright law keeps getting extended farther out.. Well, in any case theft is still theft. I believe in "Fair Use" as well, but the irony is still staggering.
@ledieppe Get some ointment for the burning sensation-- this video has no advertising on it, nor is it selling a product, therefore it qualifies as fair use as per Lenz vs. Universal Music Corp.
@JacksonAPearce That may be so. Downloading a illegal ebook to read for private use isn't selling a product, etc. What's more important is what Disney Lawyers are willing to ship a Cease & Desist notice for. If they don't defend their copyright, they feel that they'll lose it. I am not a Lawyer, but a Disney Lawyer could decide that the use of the Disney Pirate Song isn't fair use, nor parody---delicious tasty irony, really.
Talk to Cory Doctorow... There's a reason we know who he is, and have NO idea who you are... Talk to Jonathan Coulton, or Paul and Storm. If you can't figure it out, you lose.
Illegally downloading any content that you would have to pay for normally, like films, music and books, is wrong, & that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so.
Okay, he might not have said that, but it's still wrong!
The only books I downloaded were the ones on my Kindle. All were from amazon and most were free. Except these books weren't very good to be honest, so I understand why they were free. I think the most expensive one was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, which was around 2 dollars. I never finished it though because my friend broke my Kindle. DX Oh well, I can always buy a used book. *Wants many books by Dan Brown*
Oh hi! I'm writing a research paper about the following topic: will e-books eventually replace paper and ink books? I used a couple quotes from this video because I have a section in said research paper devoted to book piracy. Just thought you might want to know . . . maybe? lol
The only downloaded books I own are ARCS that have been sent to me via the publishers for reviewing purposes. Reading them on a computer is not even close to the thrill and fun that comes with holding a book in my hands, and once these novels have their official in-store release, I'm buying myself copies anyway. Reading something off a screen is fine for fanfiction - but I just can't experience a novel that way.
I downloaded seven books for free. The Harry Potter series. But I own at least three hard copies of each, so I don't feel bad about it in the slightest.
I only download books in the public domain or ones that I already own but I can't get to because they are at my parent's house. I'm not buying yet another copy of the lord of the rings if I already have them in hardback.
a better argument against illegally downloaded books being like library books is that a library has to buy a bunch of copies of a popular book or at least one copy of an unpopular one, with book downloading a lot of people get to read copies of one person's physical book.
I've never downloaded a book online, so I didn't have a book to delete after watching this video. But I did go on iTunes and delete the songs I had downloaded from YouTube. I feel a lot better, actually. :D
Totally agree with you Jackson. And MsJA12-nothing better than better than having that book in your hands. I will NEVER download books!! And stealing is stealing whether it is a penny or a million dollars. It is the principal!! I wish you lots of success Jackson and I have been telling everyone about you and your books,YouTube, and Twitter!! Hope I can send some new fans your way. Best of luck!!!
I don't download books legal or illegal because I think a book should be something physical that you can curl up with on the couch and escape into the world on the pages. I guess I'm old fashioned. Great arguments Jackson, I completely agree with everything you've said.
I am relieved that i have only ever been 'guilty' of downloading free sample chapters of novels from their official sites. And i am uber poor, so all the more reason to breathe a sigh of relief and pride that i have yet to fall into the admittedly tempting trap of pirate downloads....
@bluechocolatesky classics are public domain. Their copyrights have expired (in most country this occurs 70 years after the author's death). It is legal to download the book for free and I am 100% positive the authors won't mind.
What do you think about books whose authors are deceased? Like, I downloaded a copy of Pride and Prejudice a few months ago (though I feel guilty about it now).
This video just states why I buy books and if I can't afford to buy the book, I go and beg my mother/brother to buy it for me. Don't download. So you spend a few pounds on a book, you can then hold it, read it and cherish it forever. A book is for life, a download can easily be corrupted or mess up your whole computer. =)
if a book isn't sold in germany i buy on amazon or i ask the local bookstore to order it for me. the only person i borrow books from is my best friend because she reads just as much as me, i'm not even borrowing books from my sister, because she's usually too lazy to read books and it wounds my pride if she finishes one i wanna read too before me.
i'm weird like that ;)
the point is, i'd never download books for the same reason you mentioned: I'm only hurting the auhors i love so much
Valid as many of your points are I think you are undervaluing the fact that many people simply cannot afford to go buy the books they want to read. Many people live in towns in which the library selection is very limited. I don't download myself but I think it is really harsh to criticize someone in poverty who would rather download a book then not read the book at all. If you can afford to buy books I think it's wrong to download. If you honestly can't afford to buy I don't condemn downloading.
@itsssbri I'm living in what most would consider to be poverty right now. I'd be a lot better off if the people who stole my books had paid for them honestly. Do you really believe that if an idea isn't fixed on a page with ink, it's worthless? That the hard work and tears and sacrifice that go into everything I write should be stolen from me without my consent? Do you REALLY believe that If you can't afford something, it's okay to steal it from someone else? What if that someone else was you?
@RedZolah It's not as personal as your making it out to be. People who are downloading books instead of buying them aren't doing so with the intent on hurting you and saying your hard work is worthless. My point is that I believe that its really very harsh to condemn people who honestly can't afford to buy the books. It's not as if books are the only thing downloaded this way because this happens with music as well. I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger at people who don't have the money.
Seems like an increasingly tough world to be a content creator. There's just such a monumental pile of free information out there at everyone's fingertips, and we writer types have to wave our arms and go, "No, this bit of it isn't free, you have to pay for this part!" and people just roll their eyes. The technology makes it so easy to steal that people don't feel any analogy to clear examples of stealing anymore.
What I used to do when I couldn't get it from the library or afford it back when I was in junior high/high school: I'd read some of it at the bookstore until I had enough money to buy it or until it came in at the library :) I've also found that by spending a little extra time in the bookstore reading a few chapters tells me if it's worth spending the $ on it, if it's a library book, or if it's something that's didn't turn out to be as interesting as the book flap and reviews made it sound.
You are completely correct. I didn't know book downloading existed until my brother told me and when I found it out I was really insulted. You want the book, you buy the book, you ensure more books are published. It seems logical to me.
I wish that hard copies of books came with free downloading. Like buying a cd & being able to get mp3s, the same should happen with books. I like having physical books in front of me, but having ebooks is a lot more convenient sometimes. I hate buying books twice, so I use my kindle for the free books they offer & read my physical books at home. Although I love reading the classics they offer instead of lugging my leatherbounds around, I wish I could read some contemporary lit sometimes on it.
bookdepository.co.uk is the best site EVAR! I buy all my books there ^-^ super cheap.
Actually, it makes me kinda sad that it's cheaper for me to buy books from england, instead of buying them in my own country. Sell them to me for less money, sweden, and I will buy them from you instead of harming the environment! T_T
Oh, and about the whole piracy thing... I'm sorry =( At least you know there are people like me, people who hate reading e-books. Downloading physical copies is impossible x'D
Most books you can download for kindle have a free sample, so you can see if you like the book before buying it and there is a Free kindle app for computers
My policy has always been that I pay for stuff I would have payed for if stealing were not an option, and I don't feel bad if I download something illegally (or not illegally, like borrowing and ripping a CD from a friend) that I would not have bought anyway. So, for instance, I got into the Mountain Goats recently, and bought some albums and pirated some others, when I had no money. I just got a new job a couple of weeks ago, and I bought all of the albums I had pirated previously.
@raidonthestadiar (cont.) I don't find either extreme on this issue particularly attractive- the people who take everything and say it's not actually stealing if it's on the internet, or your view, that it is stealing and stealing is wrong no matter what. You even said that there's a gray area, but then your whole argument came off as though you were trying to make everyone who has ever downloaded anything illegally off the internet feel horrible about their complete lack of morality.
@raidonthestadiar AND ANOTHER THING (not actually mad lawl; it's just this danged charcter count) Imagine if libraries did not exist; everyone had to pay for every book they ever read. If the idea of libraries- books for free for everyone! (or one copy purchased for everyone)- were proposed, and this were not the norm, everyone would freak out, and I don't see how that uproar would be any different than that of the musicians who freaked out about Napster a decade ago.
@raidonthestadiar Why is it okay for a hundred people to go read a book from a library that was bought by with taxpayer dollars? Should they not all feel bad about this and go buy the book afterward? Libraries are evil! ...is not what I'm saying, but I'm just trying to make a point that it isn't that different. It's just what we're used to. And the whole issue is complicated and stuff and not as simple as, "This is wrong, feel bad about yourself if you've done it."
@raidonthestadiar ...Thought of something else; I'll stop after this I swear. There are musicians who I like who put up music for free/pay-what-you-want, and I know that you can't do this because these are either people who make most of their money touring or do not care about being poor. But even with that, the attitude of "I make music that I want people to hear, and that's more important to me than money" is more likely to make me want to give them money.
@raidonthestadiar ...While the attitude of, "Stop stealing from me," is less endearing. Like, an author of fiction is not the same as a business owner. You make personal, fun things, and I don't think that if you met a reader who really dug and was moved by a book of yours and they told you they'd read illegal e-books, you'd hate on them or anything, but that is what this video shalt imply if any of them are watching.
(For the record I've never downloaded a book illegally or legally kthxbai.)
@raidonthestadiar Writers *are* business-owners. We are self-employed workers who put our heart and soul into creating things that we love and believe in and just want to make enough money to support ourselves doing that. If what we made was a hat or a dress, you wouldn't think it was fine to walk into the shop and help yourself, and keep doing it until you put us out of business. It's exactly the same with a writer. If thousands of people steal our work instead of buying it, we starve.
@RedZolah Technically, stealing something physical is not the same as stealing something digital, as the physical thing cost money to produce which the person will not make back. But that doesn't mean that stealing digitally is fine, and that wasn't what I was arguing. I was just saying that I feel connected with artists whose work I like, moreso than people who sell me impersonal physical goods, which makes me want to give the artists money to support themselves/continue doing what they love.
@raidonthestadiar (cont.) And so the attitude of, "I make art that I love and I hope that you love it too," is more likely to make me, personally, want to give artist money, while an artist scolding people for wronging them does not.
Also, "starve" is a bit extreme; I'm sure most writers would at least apply for some other jobs were they on the brink of death lol.
@raidonthestadiar I lost my job this year. Unfortunately, new jobs don't just fall in people's laps when they need them, and my family doesn't have money to throw at me. So I have been struggling to LIVE on the money I get from writing. And some days I do have to chose whether I get to eat or catch the bus. Over 5000 copies of one of my books was illegally downloaded. That would have paid my rent for nearly 3 months. How would you feel if you were me?
@raidonthestadiar An e-book costs money to produce. So does the print book it comes from. E-books do have value. The fact that a book pirate can copy it free of cost to themselves doesn't negate its initial value, or the fact that by copying it, it deprives the author of money they need to live on. Each book sale makes a difference to us.
@RedZolah I'd imagine the initial cost of producing an e-book is made back if you sell a relatively small number of e-books, since duplication is free, whereas each physical book costs money to produce that will not be made back if physical copies are stolen. Then again, if books are printed all at once, then selling a certain number of them would make back the cost of printing, in which case it is the same thing, except that making an e-book costs a tiny fraction of what printing costs.
@raidonthestadiar You said, "If thousands of people steal our work instead of buying it, we starve." "Instead of buying it," is the key there. Not every one of those 5000+ people would have bought your book if they'd not been able to download it. Some of them would have borrowed it from a library, some would not have read it. Accesibility and no consequences are what makes piracy so widespread. I would argue that it's only a small percentage of those people who would have bought it...
@raidonthestadiar ...but that's just based on personal experience, from knowing people who steal thosands of songs or a band's entire catalog, who certainly would not buy all of that. But there's no way to know the real number, my only point is that it's not 5000 books that would have been sold if the readers were more moral.
ALL THAT SAID, I do think that it sucks that people pirate things they would have payed for. But that's just my opinion, and a lot of people disagree/do not think about...
@raidonthestadiar ...the consequences of not paying the people who make things they like.
And I was not trying to belittle yours or any artists' struggle to make a living doing what you/they love, which I think is a rad thing to do with one's life; I was just responding to your use of the word "starve," which I would argue implies "near death," and is not the same thing as struggling financially and not eating sometimes because of it.
I agree, except for one thing - the whole "if someone has an e-book they won't buy the actual hard copy because they've already experienced it" thing...
I've bought a hard copy of all the e-books I've read (which isn't many, I don't really like e-books and the only ones I've really bothered with are ones on netgalley because those are e-galleys I can't get hard copies of yet cause they're unreleased).
I love books so I like to own actual physical copies, even of books I didn't like much. =P
The point is he's not Stephen King big but fans such as myself listen to the free podcast then buy the book later. I've done this 3 times. He makes a comfortable loving as a writer. If your books are not good enough to make someone buy it then that is your problem.
@fortheloveoftheblood So you only steal crappy books, and you pay for the good ones? Hey, what a great idea! I'll walk into your house and take all the stuff I personally deem worthless and leave you the good stuff. You won't mind that, right? And if some of the stuff I think is crappy is stuff you worked really hard to afford or make yourself? Stuff you love or need or which has value for you? That's your problem, dude.
This is a really great topic, thanks for addressing it. Do you have an opinion on people buying used books from local stores or big stores like Half-Priced Books? It's not illegal but doesn't put money into the pockets of authors. I love used book stores for older books, particularly historical references, but I've enjoyed purchases before enough to go and buy other books by that author.
Think of all the teens who have pirated your book because they don't wanna ask their parents for their credit card number. They'll be legit consumers soon.
I saw a girl on Tumblr talking about how she downloaded The Hunger Games for free, and I read that and just thought, "Why?" I understand that that particular book is very popular, and the author isn't missing much of a profit, but still. People do that with all sorts of books, and it's not like music--you have to want to read them, like you said, and it's not right.
Not that I'm trying to defend the people who are ripping you off, but I just hope you know that it really is like you said -- lines are more blurred on the internet, and I'm sure lots of people think of it as just borrowing, like from a friend or the library.
I've never downloaded a book online, but I have found them without meaning to.
I'm very sorry that you have been a victim of book pirating, but trust me, there are definitely people out there buying your books legally, myself included.
There are definitely times when I've looked up certain passages on Google to quote them and .pdf files pop right up; I've never thought of this as stealing before, because it's not like I seek these sorts of websites out, just as you probably don't think much of looking up lyrics to your favourite song even though you can probably just listen to it on your iPod. Most people don't care about the source of the content, and the feeling is, okay, I'm already here anyway, why not get what I came for?
I didn't even know such a thing as 'book piracy' existed. thats' crazy. i knew about movie and music piracy, but not book. i don't get how its even possible.
So awesome you stand up for what you believe! I can´t believe people, if they have internet to download books, why don´t they use it to buy the e-book! Great vlog by the way.
I love your vlog and i just realized i haven't read any of your books!!! That will change I promise! And downloading books makes no sense to me... and ebooks are just aren't the same. A real book is just so much better. yup so thats enough usless input from me.
I live in Norway and by all the books I want from Amazon. With the crazy prices here, I even pay less then if I could get it in my local book store. Living in the wrong country is NOT an argument.
I am with slightlybookishblog I wouldn't even know how to download a free one and anyway I wouldn't..The happieness I get from reading is the feel of the book, turning the pages, and even occ. the smell of a book that goes along with the plot. You can't get that with a computer!!
1000000 gold coins to you for adding Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me at the end.
Ebooks or Kindle editions really don't cost that much (specifically when compared to hardback book prices). And Books A Million usually has REALLY good sales. Seriously. There are also all sorts of book-swapping websites.
Hi Jackson! I am a book person and I love real books I don't think I could ever get use to the idea of a digital book. Sucks that people think its ok to download book/music/movies for free.
Brilliantly put, and I can't really see how anyone who downloads anything (not just books) can think that it's OK. The problem is of course that the people doing this KNOW that it's wrong but do it anyway, because the policing of illegal downloading is so sparse. I think that's what needs to be addressed before anything else.
Plus bookshelves are awesome! :3
TheAwesomeBunny1 1 month ago
I like to actually OWN a book.... Not just download it...
TheAwesomeBunny1 1 month ago
Piracy might work positively for popularity based products, pop stuff. But for specialized stuff you want to be able to keep it to yourself. Like a fisherman could decide not to sell his/her fishes if the price is too low, IP Laws enable content creators to do that. We want to nurture providers of solutions just like we give thanks to people who have helped us. Thats the fundamental of a working society IMO.
Melki 1 month ago
I had some arguments with my mother about physical books and virtual books (ebooks, no stealing). I'm all for physical books because I need the act of pageturning. I tried reading an ebook, but something was missing. As I said, the pageturning, then the smell of new book, opened for the first time, holding it in your hands... the awesome cover... of course you can look at the cover of an ebook as well, but it's not the same. I like to touch things. Things like bookcovers :D
Saphira46 4 months ago
Well spoken.
PizzaMonkiProduction 5 months ago
Great video. A lot of libraries in the US (and maybe other areas) are also starting to lend ebooks through services like Overdrive, so for many titles you can borrow them to read on your Kindle or other e-reader without stealing. The libraries do put a time limit on the borrow & have a limited number of copies of each book (like with a real book), but it's still convenient, free, and accessible...and legal/ethical.
suchtastybrains 5 months ago
Also what do you think about people borrowing books or buying used copies? I'm interested to know an author's POV.
readwriteread 6 months ago
I agree with what you are saying but I also agree with @ledieppe - you are using an "idea" from Disney & stated you are not making a profit from it so with that logic your books can be downloaded just as long as it's not for profit?
readwriteread 6 months ago
@readwriteread she only quoted one part of the fair use act, the part about not making a profit from it. there are other parts of it that are violated by ppl that illegally DL books. not only is she not making a profit from it, Disney is also not suffering from fewer consumers because of her use of the song snippet. each and every single book that people illegally download is taking away from the money that most writers need to sustain themselves.
skiesandscales 1 month ago
I'm a changed man. Everyone should watch this video.
dkmrgn 7 months ago
Obviously you've never dealt with Disney Lawyers before. Yo Ho, Yo Ho... they're the reason that copyright law keeps getting extended farther out.. Well, in any case theft is still theft. I believe in "Fair Use" as well, but the irony is still staggering.
ledieppe 7 months ago
In other news... Using a Disney Song as the bookend, if you will, of your video? Sooooo... stealing from Disney is okay? The hypocrisy! It burns!
ledieppe 7 months ago
@ledieppe Get some ointment for the burning sensation-- this video has no advertising on it, nor is it selling a product, therefore it qualifies as fair use as per Lenz vs. Universal Music Corp.
JacksonAPearce 7 months ago 6
@JacksonAPearce That may be so. Downloading a illegal ebook to read for private use isn't selling a product, etc. What's more important is what Disney Lawyers are willing to ship a Cease & Desist notice for. If they don't defend their copyright, they feel that they'll lose it. I am not a Lawyer, but a Disney Lawyer could decide that the use of the Disney Pirate Song isn't fair use, nor parody---delicious tasty irony, really.
ledieppe 6 months ago
Talk to Cory Doctorow... There's a reason we know who he is, and have NO idea who you are... Talk to Jonathan Coulton, or Paul and Storm. If you can't figure it out, you lose.
ledieppe 7 months ago
Illegally downloading any content that you would have to pay for normally, like films, music and books, is wrong, & that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so.
Okay, he might not have said that, but it's still wrong!
LittleBitchBlue 7 months ago
The only books I downloaded were the ones on my Kindle. All were from amazon and most were free. Except these books weren't very good to be honest, so I understand why they were free. I think the most expensive one was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, which was around 2 dollars. I never finished it though because my friend broke my Kindle. DX Oh well, I can always buy a used book. *Wants many books by Dan Brown*
YaoiLoverForLife44 7 months ago
The Book Depository does free delivery to most countries, and the books are really cheap. Book piracey sucks :P
YourUglyFantasy 9 months ago
i just bought your free sample of sisters red on Amazon! cant wait to read it!
sygbbrand 9 months ago
I buy all of my books, but I buy authors I like (you for example) brand new. Most are used but I buy new when I can.
amandapearl2books 9 months ago
..... I didn't even know that books could be downloaded like that XD
The only books I've downloaded is the novella John Green gave the link to in a vid, and the Midnight Sun on Stephanie Meyer's website.
AlicetheShort 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Oh hi! I'm writing a research paper about the following topic: will e-books eventually replace paper and ink books? I used a couple quotes from this video because I have a section in said research paper devoted to book piracy. Just thought you might want to know . . . maybe? lol
rachelnwonderland 1 year ago
The only downloaded books I own are ARCS that have been sent to me via the publishers for reviewing purposes. Reading them on a computer is not even close to the thrill and fun that comes with holding a book in my hands, and once these novels have their official in-store release, I'm buying myself copies anyway. Reading something off a screen is fine for fanfiction - but I just can't experience a novel that way.
NEHOMAS2 1 year ago
I downloaded seven books for free. The Harry Potter series. But I own at least three hard copies of each, so I don't feel bad about it in the slightest.
Juliaisundeniably 1 year ago
I only download books in the public domain or ones that I already own but I can't get to because they are at my parent's house. I'm not buying yet another copy of the lord of the rings if I already have them in hardback.
a better argument against illegally downloaded books being like library books is that a library has to buy a bunch of copies of a popular book or at least one copy of an unpopular one, with book downloading a lot of people get to read copies of one person's physical book.
pencilears 1 year ago
@pencilears and THAT'S the problem, she said.
TheTrollAmongUs 1 year ago
I've never downloaded a book online, so I didn't have a book to delete after watching this video. But I did go on iTunes and delete the songs I had downloaded from YouTube. I feel a lot better, actually. :D
pepsicola1295 1 year ago
Totally agree with you Jackson. And MsJA12-nothing better than better than having that book in your hands. I will NEVER download books!! And stealing is stealing whether it is a penny or a million dollars. It is the principal!! I wish you lots of success Jackson and I have been telling everyone about you and your books,YouTube, and Twitter!! Hope I can send some new fans your way. Best of luck!!!
knittingmom16 1 year ago
I don't download books legal or illegal because I think a book should be something physical that you can curl up with on the couch and escape into the world on the pages. I guess I'm old fashioned. Great arguments Jackson, I completely agree with everything you've said.
MsJA12 1 year ago 12
You can download books?
FranTxis 1 year ago 7
@FranTxis LOL I know right! I didn't even know!
AlicetheShort 11 months ago
Funny that it never even OCCURRED to me to try downloading free books. Not that I ever would, but I just didn't realize it was a...thing.
ArtemisRampant 1 year ago
so philosophical. :]
chelseaurchinx 1 year ago
I am relieved that i have only ever been 'guilty' of downloading free sample chapters of novels from their official sites. And i am uber poor, so all the more reason to breathe a sigh of relief and pride that i have yet to fall into the admittedly tempting trap of pirate downloads....
NEHOMAS2 1 year ago
What if it's out of its copyright along with the author being dead? 0_0 Like some classics...
bluechocolatesky 1 year ago
@bluechocolatesky classics are public domain. Their copyrights have expired (in most country this occurs 70 years after the author's death). It is legal to download the book for free and I am 100% positive the authors won't mind.
Juliaisundeniably 1 year ago
What do you think about books whose authors are deceased? Like, I downloaded a copy of Pride and Prejudice a few months ago (though I feel guilty about it now).
Yzzyc 1 year ago
LOVE your video!! If I ever hear someone say something stupid like, "Downloading books is okay!' I have a link to send them. ;) Good job Jackson!
Karenof4 1 year ago
This video just states why I buy books and if I can't afford to buy the book, I go and beg my mother/brother to buy it for me. Don't download. So you spend a few pounds on a book, you can then hold it, read it and cherish it forever. A book is for life, a download can easily be corrupted or mess up your whole computer. =)
SophieHarperIsMe 1 year ago
Comment removed
iCharlieJs 1 year ago
if a book isn't sold in germany i buy on amazon or i ask the local bookstore to order it for me. the only person i borrow books from is my best friend because she reads just as much as me, i'm not even borrowing books from my sister, because she's usually too lazy to read books and it wounds my pride if she finishes one i wanna read too before me.
i'm weird like that ;)
the point is, i'd never download books for the same reason you mentioned: I'm only hurting the auhors i love so much
pichigirl 1 year ago
Valid as many of your points are I think you are undervaluing the fact that many people simply cannot afford to go buy the books they want to read. Many people live in towns in which the library selection is very limited. I don't download myself but I think it is really harsh to criticize someone in poverty who would rather download a book then not read the book at all. If you can afford to buy books I think it's wrong to download. If you honestly can't afford to buy I don't condemn downloading.
itsssbri 1 year ago
@itsssbri I'm living in what most would consider to be poverty right now. I'd be a lot better off if the people who stole my books had paid for them honestly. Do you really believe that if an idea isn't fixed on a page with ink, it's worthless? That the hard work and tears and sacrifice that go into everything I write should be stolen from me without my consent? Do you REALLY believe that If you can't afford something, it's okay to steal it from someone else? What if that someone else was you?
RedZolah 1 year ago
@RedZolah It's not as personal as your making it out to be. People who are downloading books instead of buying them aren't doing so with the intent on hurting you and saying your hard work is worthless. My point is that I believe that its really very harsh to condemn people who honestly can't afford to buy the books. It's not as if books are the only thing downloaded this way because this happens with music as well. I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger at people who don't have the money.
itsssbri 1 year ago
actually people download books for free cos they either don't have money to pay for it or it's just better for them to get it and not pay for it
glenakin 1 year ago
You've nailed it! Thanks for this. Faved.
Seems like an increasingly tough world to be a content creator. There's just such a monumental pile of free information out there at everyone's fingertips, and we writer types have to wave our arms and go, "No, this bit of it isn't free, you have to pay for this part!" and people just roll their eyes. The technology makes it so easy to steal that people don't feel any analogy to clear examples of stealing anymore.
omnidoug 1 year ago
What I used to do when I couldn't get it from the library or afford it back when I was in junior high/high school: I'd read some of it at the bookstore until I had enough money to buy it or until it came in at the library :) I've also found that by spending a little extra time in the bookstore reading a few chapters tells me if it's worth spending the $ on it, if it's a library book, or if it's something that's didn't turn out to be as interesting as the book flap and reviews made it sound.
dmarie1184 1 year ago
You are completely correct. I didn't know book downloading existed until my brother told me and when I found it out I was really insulted. You want the book, you buy the book, you ensure more books are published. It seems logical to me.
HappyVampSnack 1 year ago
I wish that hard copies of books came with free downloading. Like buying a cd & being able to get mp3s, the same should happen with books. I like having physical books in front of me, but having ebooks is a lot more convenient sometimes. I hate buying books twice, so I use my kindle for the free books they offer & read my physical books at home. Although I love reading the classics they offer instead of lugging my leatherbounds around, I wish I could read some contemporary lit sometimes on it.
ErinLynnS 1 year ago
Pirate puppet pal! Heheh
Very good argument :) and another great video
kamikazestrwbry 1 year ago
bookdepository.co.uk is the best site EVAR! I buy all my books there ^-^ super cheap.
Actually, it makes me kinda sad that it's cheaper for me to buy books from england, instead of buying them in my own country. Sell them to me for less money, sweden, and I will buy them from you instead of harming the environment! T_T
Oh, and about the whole piracy thing... I'm sorry =( At least you know there are people like me, people who hate reading e-books. Downloading physical copies is impossible x'D
DorkyPPoi 1 year ago
Does not like illegal downloads. It is wrong period.
Kaylee1038 1 year ago
I agree
Most books you can download for kindle have a free sample, so you can see if you like the book before buying it and there is a Free kindle app for computers
I love physical books :D
jedi837563 1 year ago
at least you know that there are poeple out there who are so desperate to read your book they will break the law for it
i'm not defending it, i hate book piracy, but i thought i'd throw that on that table
idefine777 1 year ago
My policy has always been that I pay for stuff I would have payed for if stealing were not an option, and I don't feel bad if I download something illegally (or not illegally, like borrowing and ripping a CD from a friend) that I would not have bought anyway. So, for instance, I got into the Mountain Goats recently, and bought some albums and pirated some others, when I had no money. I just got a new job a couple of weeks ago, and I bought all of the albums I had pirated previously.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar (cont.) I don't find either extreme on this issue particularly attractive- the people who take everything and say it's not actually stealing if it's on the internet, or your view, that it is stealing and stealing is wrong no matter what. You even said that there's a gray area, but then your whole argument came off as though you were trying to make everyone who has ever downloaded anything illegally off the internet feel horrible about their complete lack of morality.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar AND ANOTHER THING (not actually mad lawl; it's just this danged charcter count) Imagine if libraries did not exist; everyone had to pay for every book they ever read. If the idea of libraries- books for free for everyone! (or one copy purchased for everyone)- were proposed, and this were not the norm, everyone would freak out, and I don't see how that uproar would be any different than that of the musicians who freaked out about Napster a decade ago.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar Why is it okay for a hundred people to go read a book from a library that was bought by with taxpayer dollars? Should they not all feel bad about this and go buy the book afterward? Libraries are evil! ...is not what I'm saying, but I'm just trying to make a point that it isn't that different. It's just what we're used to. And the whole issue is complicated and stuff and not as simple as, "This is wrong, feel bad about yourself if you've done it."
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar ...Thought of something else; I'll stop after this I swear. There are musicians who I like who put up music for free/pay-what-you-want, and I know that you can't do this because these are either people who make most of their money touring or do not care about being poor. But even with that, the attitude of "I make music that I want people to hear, and that's more important to me than money" is more likely to make me want to give them money.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar ...While the attitude of, "Stop stealing from me," is less endearing. Like, an author of fiction is not the same as a business owner. You make personal, fun things, and I don't think that if you met a reader who really dug and was moved by a book of yours and they told you they'd read illegal e-books, you'd hate on them or anything, but that is what this video shalt imply if any of them are watching.
(For the record I've never downloaded a book illegally or legally kthxbai.)
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar Writers *are* business-owners. We are self-employed workers who put our heart and soul into creating things that we love and believe in and just want to make enough money to support ourselves doing that. If what we made was a hat or a dress, you wouldn't think it was fine to walk into the shop and help yourself, and keep doing it until you put us out of business. It's exactly the same with a writer. If thousands of people steal our work instead of buying it, we starve.
RedZolah 1 year ago
@RedZolah Technically, stealing something physical is not the same as stealing something digital, as the physical thing cost money to produce which the person will not make back. But that doesn't mean that stealing digitally is fine, and that wasn't what I was arguing. I was just saying that I feel connected with artists whose work I like, moreso than people who sell me impersonal physical goods, which makes me want to give the artists money to support themselves/continue doing what they love.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar (cont.) And so the attitude of, "I make art that I love and I hope that you love it too," is more likely to make me, personally, want to give artist money, while an artist scolding people for wronging them does not.
Also, "starve" is a bit extreme; I'm sure most writers would at least apply for some other jobs were they on the brink of death lol.
(Yay discourse thanks for responding :) )
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar I lost my job this year. Unfortunately, new jobs don't just fall in people's laps when they need them, and my family doesn't have money to throw at me. So I have been struggling to LIVE on the money I get from writing. And some days I do have to chose whether I get to eat or catch the bus. Over 5000 copies of one of my books was illegally downloaded. That would have paid my rent for nearly 3 months. How would you feel if you were me?
RedZolah 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar An e-book costs money to produce. So does the print book it comes from. E-books do have value. The fact that a book pirate can copy it free of cost to themselves doesn't negate its initial value, or the fact that by copying it, it deprives the author of money they need to live on. Each book sale makes a difference to us.
RedZolah 1 year ago
@RedZolah I'd imagine the initial cost of producing an e-book is made back if you sell a relatively small number of e-books, since duplication is free, whereas each physical book costs money to produce that will not be made back if physical copies are stolen. Then again, if books are printed all at once, then selling a certain number of them would make back the cost of printing, in which case it is the same thing, except that making an e-book costs a tiny fraction of what printing costs.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar You said, "If thousands of people steal our work instead of buying it, we starve." "Instead of buying it," is the key there. Not every one of those 5000+ people would have bought your book if they'd not been able to download it. Some of them would have borrowed it from a library, some would not have read it. Accesibility and no consequences are what makes piracy so widespread. I would argue that it's only a small percentage of those people who would have bought it...
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar ...but that's just based on personal experience, from knowing people who steal thosands of songs or a band's entire catalog, who certainly would not buy all of that. But there's no way to know the real number, my only point is that it's not 5000 books that would have been sold if the readers were more moral.
ALL THAT SAID, I do think that it sucks that people pirate things they would have payed for. But that's just my opinion, and a lot of people disagree/do not think about...
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
@raidonthestadiar ...the consequences of not paying the people who make things they like.
And I was not trying to belittle yours or any artists' struggle to make a living doing what you/they love, which I think is a rad thing to do with one's life; I was just responding to your use of the word "starve," which I would argue implies "near death," and is not the same thing as struggling financially and not eating sometimes because of it.
raidonthestadiar 1 year ago
I agree, except for one thing - the whole "if someone has an e-book they won't buy the actual hard copy because they've already experienced it" thing...
I've bought a hard copy of all the e-books I've read (which isn't many, I don't really like e-books and the only ones I've really bothered with are ones on netgalley because those are e-galleys I can't get hard copies of yet cause they're unreleased).
I love books so I like to own actual physical copies, even of books I didn't like much. =P
lannapeanut 1 year ago
The point is he's not Stephen King big but fans such as myself listen to the free podcast then buy the book later. I've done this 3 times. He makes a comfortable loving as a writer. If your books are not good enough to make someone buy it then that is your problem.
fortheloveoftheblood 1 year ago
@fortheloveoftheblood So you only steal crappy books, and you pay for the good ones? Hey, what a great idea! I'll walk into your house and take all the stuff I personally deem worthless and leave you the good stuff. You won't mind that, right? And if some of the stuff I think is crappy is stuff you worked really hard to afford or make yourself? Stuff you love or need or which has value for you? That's your problem, dude.
RedZolah 1 year ago
Scott Sigler put free podcasts of his books on iTunes. He is successful he also has audio and physical copies of his books
fortheloveoftheblood 1 year ago
This is a really great topic, thanks for addressing it. Do you have an opinion on people buying used books from local stores or big stores like Half-Priced Books? It's not illegal but doesn't put money into the pockets of authors. I love used book stores for older books, particularly historical references, but I've enjoyed purchases before enough to go and buy other books by that author.
tellgreatstories 1 year ago
Think of all the teens who have pirated your book because they don't wanna ask their parents for their credit card number. They'll be legit consumers soon.
fliggahj 1 year ago
I saw a girl on Tumblr talking about how she downloaded The Hunger Games for free, and I read that and just thought, "Why?" I understand that that particular book is very popular, and the author isn't missing much of a profit, but still. People do that with all sorts of books, and it's not like music--you have to want to read them, like you said, and it's not right.
AnotherStolenHour 1 year ago
Not that I'm trying to defend the people who are ripping you off, but I just hope you know that it really is like you said -- lines are more blurred on the internet, and I'm sure lots of people think of it as just borrowing, like from a friend or the library.
I've never downloaded a book online, but I have found them without meaning to.
I'm very sorry that you have been a victim of book pirating, but trust me, there are definitely people out there buying your books legally, myself included.
lizzy7131 1 year ago
There are definitely times when I've looked up certain passages on Google to quote them and .pdf files pop right up; I've never thought of this as stealing before, because it's not like I seek these sorts of websites out, just as you probably don't think much of looking up lyrics to your favourite song even though you can probably just listen to it on your iPod. Most people don't care about the source of the content, and the feeling is, okay, I'm already here anyway, why not get what I came for?
lizzy7131 1 year ago
100% agree! And dude, that pirate is freaking awesome. I think he needs to swing by for another vlog.
sammyjones57 1 year ago
I like physical books :) , "Half a booty" LOL. I get most of my books from the library, I dont really buy books if they have it at my library/
gabbiechang 1 year ago
I didn't even know such a thing as 'book piracy' existed. thats' crazy. i knew about movie and music piracy, but not book. i don't get how its even possible.
TomorrowAlwayzComez 1 year ago
Well said, I totally agree with you 100%
glittergirlxoxo 1 year ago
So awesome you stand up for what you believe! I can´t believe people, if they have internet to download books, why don´t they use it to buy the e-book! Great vlog by the way.
vicky216n 1 year ago
I love your vlog and i just realized i haven't read any of your books!!! That will change I promise! And downloading books makes no sense to me... and ebooks are just aren't the same. A real book is just so much better. yup so thats enough usless input from me.
Happy Monday
crosskitelines 1 year ago
I applaude you! Best argument I've head on this subject!!
ILuvRobPattinson 1 year ago
I couldn't even download a book, how could you read a book off the computer? I have to read on paper >.>
JazzTheJumper 1 year ago
I live in Norway and by all the books I want from Amazon. With the crazy prices here, I even pay less then if I could get it in my local book store. Living in the wrong country is NOT an argument.
EdelGarstad 1 year ago 22
This is all so true!!!! :)
If you were a true book lover, you'd just buy a book to smell and feel and enjoy reading the book :)
poppycorn146 1 year ago
I had one book download on my computer. I was gonna start reading this evening. After watching this I just deleted it.
xXXHariboXX 1 year ago 28
I am with slightlybookishblog I wouldn't even know how to download a free one and anyway I wouldn't..The happieness I get from reading is the feel of the book, turning the pages, and even occ. the smell of a book that goes along with the plot. You can't get that with a computer!!
Pinkpoodle654 1 year ago
1000000 gold coins to you for adding Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me at the end.
Ebooks or Kindle editions really don't cost that much (specifically when compared to hardback book prices). And Books A Million usually has REALLY good sales. Seriously. There are also all sorts of book-swapping websites.
elizziebooks 1 year ago
I just vlogged about this very same thing. I wish I were half as funny or eloquent. ;-) Great vlog.
JASaare 1 year ago
The Pirate Puppet should get its own VLog within the next few weeks!
On other note: I could not agree more!
MsDarkMuffin 1 year ago
Hi Jackson! I am a book person and I love real books I don't think I could ever get use to the idea of a digital book. Sucks that people think its ok to download book/music/movies for free.
caris0t0 1 year ago
Woo! Go Jackson! I buy books, of course :D I wouldn't even know HOW to download a free one. And I wouldn't anyway. Also, that Pirate is awesome, lol
SlightlyBookishBlog 1 year ago 2
Brilliantly put, and I can't really see how anyone who downloads anything (not just books) can think that it's OK. The problem is of course that the people doing this KNOW that it's wrong but do it anyway, because the policing of illegal downloading is so sparse. I think that's what needs to be addressed before anything else.
Penrefe 1 year ago