Copyright is being infringed every day, and there is not a lot we (midlist and lower) authors can do about it.
As fast as we discover another site where our books have been illegally scanned, turned into e-books, and are being "shared", then spent half a day writing to the site's moderators, and perhaps getting the links removed... the thieves go elsewhere.
I saw a journalist blog the other day that because J K Rowling won't miss the royalties, it is acceptable for readers to steal from every other author, too.
It's not OK. Not all copies that are read illegally would have been paperbacks sold, but some will, and for some authors, those lost sales will make the difference between whether or not they are ever offered another contract.
When I see that JK Rowling's books are also on the pirate site, I'm glad, because I know that eventually, that site will be shut down, because she is good at defending herself, and the big guns sink pirates faster than lots of little pop guns can.
Today I'm cheering, because I keep the rights to my characters. Wouldn't you? I don't know how someone can publish an Encyclopaedia of Harry Potter without mentioning any of the characters!
I hope the New York judge sides with Ms Rowling!
Anyway....If you think it is only fair that the government defends the book industry's copyrights with the same vigor that they protect the music and movie industries, please consider signing this petition.
Or, pass on the url. Let's make a stir!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ebooksandpirates/
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Rowena Cherry
Konrath Thanksgiving - Black Friday - Cyber Monday Kindle Bundle Sale
-
*Get all of my ebook box sets on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents each, November
23 - 28.*
*THAT'S 33¢ PER BOOK!*
Almost my entire backlist of fifty-four ebooks...
11 months ago
Posts
2 comments:
She will lose the case. It is common sense that she should. An encyclopaedia is a gathering of facts and that's what this book is. She may have conjured up beasts in her stories but for someone to catalogue them is beyond such scope. The question that should be asked is what the hell a fifty year old is doing making a Harry Potter website.
Tamlyn,
I am appalled, and I don't understand how a useful encyclopaedia can be created if it does not mention any of the characters.
An author has copyright over her characters. If an encylopaedia were to be done, it should either be done by the author, or under license from the author.
Unlike Yahoo, J K Rowling is not a public company, and should be protected from a hostile takeover of her property.
But, I do appreciate your response, and the chance to debate this issue with you, Tamlyn!
Rowena Cherry
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