illegal copying of ebook
By RisaAttrell
@RisaAttrell (418)
Canada
November 16, 2010 4:05pm CST
if you wrote an ebook, would you spend the time and or money, encrypting it so people can't illegally distribute it? Or do you think doing that is not worth the trouble?
5 responses
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
16 Nov 10
I think that protecting it is a waste of time. People will eventually be able to copy it anyway, and you will make the life harder for those who actually bought your book, with drm and all that.
After all everything that can be printed can be printed in a virtual printer that saves to unprotected pdf instead :)
And if the book can't be printed the buyer has some rights to be upset.
Just my opinion..
1 person likes this
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
17 Nov 10
You are completely right, you can make it complex to copy it, but sometimes this makes things complex even for fair use. Anyway if you can protect your file without too much effort it can be a good idea, but keep in mind that the safety this gives is relative at best.
The most important thing i believe is to keep the manuscript or something that can state what is your intellectual property, so if somebody steals your book to republish it, you can sue them. This kind of behaviour can be repressed in most countries (since it is for profit), for illicit copies that people can get for free in some way instead i don't think that there is anything you can do, except for making a great book and making people will to buy it legally.
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
18 Nov 10
I am really happy to know that you solved this. It is really a smart move for amazon to give free drm's to books, it makes more people want to use their service to publish books.
I completely agree with you that is surely better to avoid legal problems but anyway it is a good idea to have proofs just in case.. (as i understand you have already done). After all anything that can be read can be copied by someone motivated enough...
Good luck with your newly published book :)
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
18 Nov 10
It's a little more difficult to "steal" a copyright. You just have to put the copyright notice on the booklet. If you don't you're on your own! You can register the copyright with the Library of Congress too for a small fee. That secures it period. But you can do it the "poor boy" way. Mail it to yourself in a sealed envelope. The post office stamps the date on it and it will stand up in court if someone tried to use it. Just don't open it after you get it in the mail from yourself! lol!
@calpro (930)
• India
17 Nov 10
Hi,
If you had spend considerable time on writing an ebook
It is better to protect it from being illegally distributed
with all possible measures. It is your effort and your hard work and it should pay you not someone who is trying to make a living on your efforts and picking out money from your pocket.
Good luck
@RisaAttrell (418)
• Canada
17 Nov 10
Yes, believe me, i see your point. (see my comment in the above response)
@oprofitis (34)
• Greece
17 Nov 10
Finding ways to protect an ebook is indeed a waste of time. I have always found ways to decrypt the file so as to print it etc.., and I am still an amateur, so a professional would not have a problem at all. The only important thing is to make sure that you are the only one who has the rights to your work.
Copying is sometimes legal, according to the laws of the country it is sold in. And the debate over the copyright is really long, so it shoudn't even bother you.
