(no subject)

[ritaxis]

John Scalzi has interesting things to say about the changing landscape of writing here. I'm not going to argue with it, because I think he's right (though I hope there are other things going on too because I don't want to self-market, okay?). But I have some other thoughts that I've been having for a long time that I haven't seen other people talk about.

Used books, libraries, borrowing, inheriting . . . there are lots of ways that old-fashioned conventional books pass from hand to hand without being paid for. But I never saw anybody trying to pass a law against second-hand books or lending books. The most action I've ever sen anybody take is that for some kinds of books and magazines, libraries pay more than individuals.

Somebody tell me where to draw the line? And tell me why the same people who are so worried about piracy now have not been worried about libraries and the vast networks of book lending among individuals?

I had to use the windshield wipers yesterday. It's supposed to be summer by now. Should I be worried or stoked?

Comments

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

IIRC, there have been moves to tax public libraries and second hand bookstores for the sake of publishing, just as the RIAA and BMI can collect something very much like taxes. I don't know any details though.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

While professional mag subs might cost more (and that's for doctors' offices, not just libraries), and while some publishers might charge libraries more for books, the bulk of our book buying is discounted by quite a lot because libraries buy in bulk.

That's a good point tho about hand-me-downs and lending amongst each other, as well as libraries, which also lend CDs, DVDs, provide free computer access, loan software (in many places), and now offer ebooks via netLibrary or Overdrive. But I think the electronic possibilities for pirating overwhelm the argument of hardcopy lending due to the sheer ubiquity of it, that so many people can download something at the same time.

Interesting issue, all around.