I find myself in such a helpless situation, when I get to see sites allowing free downloads of the recently published titles. Some of the countries exploit loopholes in DMCA and allow uploads of complete book content which have not yet soaked in the market. There are much better ways to share knowledge instead of uploading scanned books. People who can not afford to buy the book can always make use of libraries or can share a book. But downloading free books from the sites, is almost supporting crime. First of all, it is the moral responsibility of the internet site owners to avoid such illegal practice in the name of "sharing knowledge". If this is for social cause, they should open a library and buy in books for everyone. Sharing knowledge agenda can never go together with theft and illegal practices. Yes, I'm talking about http://www.rapidshare.com and all other such sites who are responsible for all such illegal practices.
I appeal to the respectable audience to avoid downloading books from these sites. Instead use libraries or share the book with others but avoid supporting illegal practices. There is effort and resources involved both from author and publishers end. Publishing companies and book stores are getting income by selling these books. Sales of a copy of the title will earn bread for so many in the chain. Lastly, knowledge gained by any illegal means will never solve any purpose.
I hope for co-operation from at least those who are downloading books. If they avoid downloading books from such illegal sites, it will surely discourage site owners from carrying such illegal and immoral practices.
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well, you should've released the book on a creative commons licence, it would then not be uploaded anywhere.
ReplyDeleteindeed you own the book, yet you do not own the knowledge. you have been given a permit from the society to own rights to the book, that's what copyright is. but the society never gave up its right to educate and learn. libraries are XIX-th century bogus. why should we be forced to use libraries in an era of the internet?
it is you who does not recognize the new times that have come. should you have released your book on a creative commons licence, your sales would have increased just like cory doctorow's, prof. lawrence lessigs and others. but you did not!
I see your effort, I don't see why I should give you control over my access to knowledge. Earlier I had to - there was no other way, no internet, only print. Nowadays I don't have to, and quite frankly I see no reason to do it. Sure, I respect your work. If it becomes so useful to me I will profit from it, I will probably pay for your book. But not because you told me to, but because I chose to.
btw. I'm just making a point, I didn't download your book as I don't think I need it, I just came across your blog searching for information on how tcp congestion algorithms differ between 2.4 and 2.6, as I'm working on implementing different types of simulation in omnet++. Thought I would exchange some remarks.
ReplyDeleteDjurban,
ReplyDeletethanks for not downloading the book. I'm not against not-sharing possessed knowledge as it has come from nowhere but what you got it from the world.
I'm against piracy and will stick to it. Publishers and authors do a lot of hard work to give "Just information" shape of a book. If somebody just screens the entire book and post it on the internet, this should not be practiced else book publishing will fail altogether.
I've been blogging on the different subjects and I don't expect any revenue from that. But that is also an effort.
So, if I write a document that I feel should go for free, I'd not involve any publisher and also would not take an extra effort to give it shape of the book.
By the way library is not an alternative, even legal E-books are available on internet.
I hope you should never come to a point in your life where you need to refer my book. You look very capable and I wish a great success to you.
finally, I have only one word for you and that is 'Gentleman'.