• Member Since 30th Jan, 2013
  • offline last seen 1 hour ago

Viking ZX


Author of Science-Fiction and Fantasy novels! Oh, and some fanfiction from time to time.

More Blog Posts1452

Jun
8th
2017

Lilith Saintcrow On Piracy · 3:12pm Jun 8th, 2017

This one came across my feed this morning. I'll warn you before I post the link: severe language warning.

Why? Because this author is angry. And you know what? I understand their anger. I really do. I've seen some hard numbers on the Piracy of my books. One site (just one, mind you) kept track of how "popular" piracy of my books was. If I sold half the copies that were pirated, I wouldn't need my second job. I could be writing full time.

But I have to have it, because some people can't wrap their heads around the concept that they should have to pay for other's hard work. In their minds, the only hard work that's worth monetary value is their own.

These justifications that you can read about in Saintcrow's article? I've heard each and every one of them. Some to my face. These are real things said that even a low-selling author like myself hears about frequently.

So what Saintcrow's reply is? I understand it. Oh, do I ever. I've thought about quite a lot. If people won't pay authors for their work or support them, the author will stop producing. Inevitably but surely. You wouldn't work your job, after all, if your paycheck was something your employer and all customers considered optional.

Saintcrow is right. There are dozens of justifications for this behavior, but every one of them is flimsier than a tissue-paper retaining wall. None of them hold up for more than a brief second, and many of them could be refuted by a kindergartner.

Right, that's all I have to say. You can read Saintcrow's rant here. Again, language warning, but she's made some very valid points.

Don't pirate, people.

Comments ( 11 )

Yowch. I knew you had piracy problems, but enough that the amount they're stealing could easily support you full-time? :raritydespair:

Heck, I had no idea book piracy was that rampant.

4564354
If the numbers at all similar to what they were when I found the site that kept records, yes. Even at half, it was still a few downloads a day, which would be more than enough.

Instead, I'm spending my hours at my second job while still working to produce more books.

Posted #3 · Jun 8th, 2017 · · 2 ·

What are your thoughts on libraries?

4564420
As a justification for piracy? Weak. Libraries purchase the books they put up for loan, and reimburse authors, which serves not only to compensate authors, but also grant publicity (they also encourage patrons to purchase books).

Pirates just steal with no compensation, and with active discouragement from purchasing.

Edit: Trying to use libraries as a justification for piracy is like trying to use Netflix as an excuse to download whatever movie one wants.

4564436

Not as a justification for piracy, for the one (paid) copy to dozens or perhaps hundreds of people. Do you think that this also hurts authors and needs to be changed?

4564453
The thing is, arguing that it's only one paid copy to hundreds of "free" reads is not accurate to how a library works.

Libraries are very supportive of authors. Not only do they purchase their copies, they'll often purchase multiple copies for popularly checked-out works, and will recommend those books to not just patrons, but other libraries, leading to more sales. They also invite authors to do readings, promote them, and encourage patrons to check out their work. Additionally, as libraries still operate under supply and demand, there's no instant gratification associated with them, which further drives people to purchase books. After seeing that I was 157th in line to read The Martian, I purchased a copy. And loved it. The Codex Alera box set is on my "to buy" list specifically because I read it at a library.

Libraries are wonderful tools for promoting authors and supporting them. Piracy is about as far removed from the money an author makes off of libraries as Call of Duty is from actual war.

EDIT: Another angle, but there are an estimated 120,000 public libraries in the US. If a quarter of them bought a single copy of one of my books to share, I'd make tens of thousands. Plus further tail sales as others picked it up.

4564748

If it's any consolation, they pirated your book to read it.

Yeah, but it’s a bit like someone dining and dashing. Even if they compliment the chef on how much they enjoyed the meal, they still didn’t pay the bill.

I've bought two of your books for a decent price ...

Thank you for purchasing, and I hope you enjoyed them! And for the deal-hunter in you, know that in not too long, Unusual Events will be 1.5 years old, meaning ... PRICE DROP!

D48

If people won't pay authors for their work or support them, the author will stop producing.

Man, I really wish the RIAA would get the memo on this. We keep pirating their music, but they refuse to go away. :rainbowlaugh:

4564403
I’d be wary of trusting those kinds of sites unless they have actual download links and statistics on how much use those links got (and even then one person may download the file several times so it could still be high). They definitely have an agenda so I’d expect them to find ways to pad their numbers with tricks like counting the Google bot skimming a site as a download. That’s not to say they are completely wrong or that piracy never happens, just that you should take the actual numbers they list with a grain of salt.

That said, if you do have a link to the pirate download or another workaround, please let me know. I’ll be happy to pay more than list price via your patreon (or something similar) for a way to get around Amazon since I refuse to deal with them.

4565223

Man, I really wish the RIAA would get the memo on this. We keep pirating their music, but they refuse to go away. :rainbowlaugh:

They have very deep pockets. It'll be a while.

That said, if you do have a link to the pirate download or another workaround, please let me know. I’ll be happy to pay more than list price via your patreon (or something similar) for a way to get around Amazon since I refuse to deal with them.

How deep does your animosity toward Amazon extend? If I were to, for example, suggest that I buy and gift the ones you wanted to you from the site in exchange for a one-time Patreon donation, would that work? Or would that still not be acceptable because you'd need to redeem and download the files from Amazon?

Barring that, if you're determined, I may be able to procure a direct copy to send to you personally, but the Amazon route is easier.

D48

4566195

They have very deep pockets. It'll be a while.

Hm, I guess that means we need to pirate harder then. :trollestia:

How deep does your animosity toward Amazon extend?

Well, I told you about the blatantly illegal bullshit they pulled on me a while back so you should already have a sense of where I stand and why I refuse to deal with them, but regardless I'm not one to take a workaround when I take a stand like this. The whole point is to hit them in the proverbial wallet for their shit because that's the only thing that can really get through to them, so I'm not willing to take any action that gives them any money because that defeats the purpose of taking a stand against the company.

Login or register to comment