PressEthic

The first Google Print books have launched, and it's all downhill from here.

Personally, I'm surprised at all the fuss. That's just the (semi) recent college graduate in me, though. In college, I had a vast number of texts available to me online, as did my older brother before me. This is nothing new!

But, alas, I guess I pay for my education, and library fees are included. But why don't public libraries have such sites? Why can't a high school student access a digital copy of John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women? SoW is the example I use, because it's the only book I ever printed off my university library's collection. Otherwise, it's impractical.

This is not like downloading songs, people! Even if it was, the US Authors Guild should learn a bit from RIAA's uphill battle. Technology will advance, and the public will seek to use it. Work with it!

I understand this is uncomfortable copyright-gray-area. But from my point of view-- this is a digital library! No one has ever had to pay to read a book, they've only had to go to their public library an check it out!

Unless the US Authors Guild is willing to fight librarians everywhere-- all trying to lure children in with their free book rental and complimentary bookmarks-- well, then their case is shoddy. What about half.com? Selling used books. People- gasp!- read a book, sell it, that person reads it and sells it... What about the stacks of books for exchange tossed about European hostels everywhere? Should grungy backpackers start getting written permission? How about that "feel free to borrow" station in the back of a fifth grade classroom somewhere. Author's permission?

Surely the US Authors Guild (and the five joining publishers) has a right to defend their profits. They're just going about it the wrong way.