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Libraries as e-piracy fighters
July 10, 2009 | 6:57 am
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By David Rothman
Want economic stimulus and literacy?
How about more money for libraries and perhaps a TeleRead-style approach, with a well-stocked, tax-supported national digital library system, blended in with local libraries and schools?
Aside from the benefits to readers, besieged publishers would enjoy a new income stream. Plus, there’s another factor to be considered—less of a piracy risk.
Consider a post from librarian Jeff Scott (photo), also a TeleBlog contributor:
E-books in libraries are the best way to combat any piracy. That’s the next big issue of online content. I also think it is ironic that Scribd will start selling e-books when that was one of the biggest book piracy sites available (not of their own doing of course). Many of the book piracy sites are going away now that more attention has been paid. Prior to researching the topic, I didn’t realize that most of the books available through these sites didn’t exist digitally before. There was no deal with the author or publisher; they were illegal. I think a lot of this can be stopped if more current e-books are available online through public libraries. They are the only medium that currently provides free content that is legal. I just hope that isn’t taken away in the digital age.
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Comments:
“They are the only medium that currently provides free content that is legal.” In what way are the free books given away by authors to promote their hard copies or other books not legal? Do you mean to imply that somehow the Baen Free Library is breaking some sort of obscure rule, unknown to them or me? Amazon also has free books in it’s store.
I would suppose that I am implying something, unintentionally.
I am not stating that give-away books by the author or publisher is illegal, obviously. I am simply stating books will be pirated by those who want them. A way to avoid that is to provide a way for people to access them for free, as public libraries do now. No one is out the cost.
A Public Library pays for the book, the community has access to it for free, and everyone enjoys it. The point of the post is that sharing has become a dirty word. I am suggesting a possible solution for people to share that is perfectly legal.