Thursday May 17, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Digital piracy casts shadow over ebook world

Arts & Culture Oct. 16, 2011 - 05:11AM JST ( 5 )

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Digital books now account for about 20 percent of US book sales

Visitors try out ebook devices at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany

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5 Comments

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jforceOct. 16, 2011 - 10:14AM JST

So I guess the idea of borrowing from a library or a friend has to be re-thought? What is funny is we pay for data. Not a material object that we can treasure, but air. These companies really have it easy now. They can eliminate manufacturing costs, offices, and personnel and sell us data instantly. I think the book companies will do just fine - yes, and profits will rise when they eliminate borrowing all together and have us all paying for data because of Internet regulations and such.
3

jonobugsOct. 16, 2011 - 12:12PM JST

I don't completely agree with you jforce. Just because it's digital doesn't mean there is nothing there. Are you trying to say that reading a book from your iPad/Kindle or what have you means it doesn't exist? That's just plain silly.

However, I do agree that the cost of producing those books is considerably lower than creating an actual physical book, not to mention saving the savings on transportation costs. So, WHY would I pay the same or in some cases MORE for a digital book? That's just insane.

I bought a book from Amazon and waited a day or two for the delivery because the digital version was actually more expensive!! How insane is that.

I think that there would be a lot less piracy if the prices were lower. I buy apps all the time from Apple because it's A) super easy B) lots of reviews from others C) CHEAP. I won't buy books from them, though. It's insane that I would pay 1000 yen or more for a novel, especially when the printed version is almost the same cost. I would prefer reading an actual physical book to one on e-reader (but I love e-readers....kind of ironic)
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blackbaggerOct. 17, 2011 - 08:13PM JST

jonobugs, you're completely right. I have a kindle and am happy to get ebooks on it, as they don't take up space in my tiny apartment, and I can just delete them when I'm done, but some of the prices they charge are absurd, like when the ebook version costs more than the paperback, like you said. In those cases, I usually just pass completely, unless it's something I really really need. Otherwise I'll just wait till the price goes down or get it used in physical format later. The best way to tell publishers their prices are too high is to just not buy the product.

For the most part, however, I'm happy with most ebook pricing. And the fact that you can get lots of old books for free. Japan, tho, has a terrible ebook market. If you look a lot of places charge the same price for the digital as they do the print copy. Just stupid. So they've made ereaders and expect people to pay just as much for digital? The only result that can come from that scheme is more piracy. At least amazon gets it right for the most part.
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JapanGalOct. 18, 2011 - 03:08PM JST

Some one has to pay for the servers and back up and upkeep, so the books could cost more over all.

Cheap paper backs on crappy paper cost nothing to print.
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ebisenOct. 20, 2011 - 09:14AM JST

Most of the books I was ever interested reading can be found on Project Gutenberg's web page (Amazon & co. ''s worst nightmare page). It is completely free and legal, and full of old classics. There are enough good books in there to cover many lifetimes of reading. For the odd ones I can't find in there I am ready to pay with hard cash, unless the seller considers us idiots and tries to sell us digital data at higher prices than printed one. Then I will look for alternatives...