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50 Comments
- itomixdotcom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+94Because you choose a license that made it perfectly legal for it to be published. In fact, anyone could print it up and sell it right now. It's a bummer, but that's how the author licensed the book. This isn't a failure of creative commons, however. It's just a mistake on the part of the author.
From the article:
"There is another CC license called Attribution-NonCommerical 2.5, which allows anyone to share or remix the work as long as it is not for commercial purposes." - utcursch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+51Seth Godin accepts that this is his fault because the license he chose doesn't preclude something like this:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/02/please_dont_buy.html
He had no problem with his book being sold -- his concern was that the book was being passed off as something new. After he raised the issue with the publisher, the cover of the book was changed. Earlier, it didn't contain any information about the free version of the book. Now it clearly says "This is a reprint of the free e-book under Creative Commons license":
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/9562912140.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V44096705_.jpg - Splizxer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20So much for being a marketing expert, eh?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18He had no problem with his book being sold -- his concern was that the book was being passed off as something new.
- jccalhoun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
There are tons of publishers that make a killing off of selling Shakespeare or Dickens when you can get them for free. Nothing sleezy about it. I - drewskiMD, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17I don't think whay they're doing is inherently "sleazy" or underhanded. It seems they've put quite a bit of effort into their business, and if they're working to make CC liscensed materials available to more people, then why shouldn't they make money doing so? It only becomes sleazy if they try and misrepresent what they're doing, which may have been the case here.
- utcursch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Expert-Seth-Godin/dp/9562912140
Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Everyone-is-an-Expert-by-Seth-Godin_W0QQitemZ200074881500QQihZ010QQcategoryZ29792QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
Free download:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/files/_everyoneisanexpert2.pdf - uidzero, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Actually how many people really prefer reading an e-book on their screen over a paper one in hand? I know personaly I'd pay $10 to be able to have a paper version of a book versus a free [hard to read] ebook version.
- johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10you are paying for manufacturing and distribution. wasn't the 9-11 commission report a free download, and still the top selling book for weeks and weeks?
more importantly, Amazon doesn't actually have it for sale (anymore?):
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Expert-Seth-Godin/dp/9562912140/sr=8-2/qid=1171467178/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-6453675-7080704?ie=UTF8&s=books - Mesach, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9People who have read the free download, might think its new and actually buy it, then get mad at Seth...
Therein lies the problem - monergism, on 10/12/2007, -7/+16If I haven't read it - it's new to me.
- ccanni1028, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9These are probably the same people who set up websites that offer the sale of programs like OpenOffice and SpyBotS&D.
- picardo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7From Seth's blog:
"UPDATE: First, I want to clarify the above... I thought I was clear, but trackbacks seem to indicate that I wasn't. I fully realize that the Creative Commons license I chose permits someone to sell the ebook or even turn it into a book. I had no problem with that. My concern was that the book was being passed off as something new. That my trademark (and your expectations) were violated when Amazon sent out an email indicating that in 2007 I had a new book come out on this topic.
The news is that the publisher of the book was incredibly responsive and has changed the cover. He's being really clear about the origin of the book now, and that was my point all along. If you want it in book form, then of course, go buy it! Now that you know what you're getting."
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/9562912140.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V44096705_.jpg - johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5depending on the topic, a book published in 2005 is still relatively new. that's *maybe* 2 years old, maybe just 14 months. considering the traditional publishing model is hardcover and then softcover 12 months later, 2005 is new. i realize that model is for big selling books (or books they hope will sell big), and not relatively disposable airport/supermarket/beach books.
- neuralcooker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This article appears to be inaccurate. In my interpretation, the author is not upset that it's being republished but is upset with the way that it's presented, as a new book that is not a reprinting of a free book. After he told the publisher it seems that they promptly changed the cover of the book to clearly state both points. So what's the problem?
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/02/please_dont_buy.html
The article seems like FUD against creative commons license and the like. Or more probably, the writer of the article was shocked that someone would license a book under such conditions knowingly and assumed that the author would be upset about a reprinting that is protected by the license. - Culled, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I don't mind if I were going to read his book I'd rather not have to stare at my computer screen for hours and I'll gladly pay for the convenience of having it in a printed version.
Can someone tell me though if I were to license a book under a CC Attribution-Noncommercial license would it be legal for me (as the author) to sell the book? - XStatic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I don't see the problem here, Seth offered the book free - if you printed it yourself.
This publisher put it in a book format which some may prefer.
Perhaps the license Seth chose to use should have given him the ability to receive compensation for any derivative works. - mklopez, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Actually, i did not submit the article because of the "sensationalistic" headline. I did it because most people who publish content under the (default or most common) CC license may not be aware that is legal for others to resell or otherwise make money out of your work. That includes any photo you publish on flickr, blog posts on wordpress or blogger, and even digg comments (I think).
I think the headline in this article, even if if sounds sensationalistic, is quite appropriate. - h0f5, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11Well Seth Godin screwed up pretty badly by licensing it wrongly, but the real stupid people are those who pay 9.90 to buy a free e book : This is legal marketing, but whether its ethical, people know for themselves.
- ThumpinD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4My car only runs on distilled water. It knocks if you use water right out of the tap.
- partialinfinity, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The license is a general legal agreement for people other than the author who wish to use the works. The author retains all rights to their works and it is perfectly acceptable for them to do as they please with it. If someone else wants to use the author's work, that is when the license comes into play.
- Roger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Amazon link?
- sasira, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I just hope this wont give people the wrong impression about CC licensing..
- Brodels, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4on a related note, you can get a lot of the ebay books that people try and sell, for free...although I've always been a bit sceptical about them in the first place. "how to convert your car to run on tap water!" which has varying results from 50-300mpg and finishes at step 12 with "Do not let ANYONE ever compromise your dream, your freedom, your independence or your truth."
http://www.floodle.net/ - VeganG, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Night of the Living Dead is public domain simply because the distributor didn't put a notice in the print.
- johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3it may teach people to read the different CC options a little closer. unfortunately there are a few and sometimes a little confusing if you never used them before. still, the CC option is a very good option to have.
- stupidStan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I cant wait to go start selling my 'Carb Free Water' to these same fools
- theadvinci, on 07/18/2008, -0/+1So we're living in times when if you even want to give stuff out for free... you just can't.
- flashgordonweb, on 10/19/2008, -0/+1One has to be very careful when they sign an author agreement. They often contain various clauses about the scope of the agreement: print rights, digital rights, international rights, etc. Seems like the author did not read their contract very closely.
http://www.bauuinstitute.com/Marketing/Marketing.h ...
Book marketing is a competitive business, so publishers are always trying every avenue they can to make a sale. - Misesean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Exactly so. The Ludwig von Mises Institute (#1 economics site on the net) makes all their books freely available online (hundreds of 'em); they reported that their sales of physical books went up when they started making the PDFs available.
- gafarudin, on 07/29/2009, -0/+1Nice, Thanks,
Download Free ebooks here :
http://download-for-free-ebooks.blogspot.com/ - plagiats, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Why ? Because the license permits it !
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you owned yourself.
- wlai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's worth point out that BN Books, if I'm not mistaken, is associated (or owned) by Barnes and Nobles. They traditionally take material that's out of copyrighs (like Project Gutenberg stuff) and print them out for sale.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"That my trademark (and your expectations) were violated when Amazon sent out an email indicating that in 2007 I had a new book come out on this topic."
It's funny. Strange sentence fragment from an author. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I don't get it. I can't find a link to this book either on his blog or on his website. Considering he's an expert on better websites, why can't I access this book he wants to dole out for free?
- theplaz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Yeah he licensed under CC, so that's what happens. He should be happy for the exposure.
- orkutsmorkut, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0http://www.e-book-reader.com
- KennyElendi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I can understand any author being angered by the publishing of his/her work without their consent as an author who publishes under the CC license. However, I am sure to use the correct CC license to ensure my work cannot be reproduced without my consent. Not that I am famous enough to cause anyone to want to publish my work in the first place!
- dasuberdog, on 12/22/2007, -1/+0As for me, paper books are always the better choice, despite higher price.
http://www.buyzillion.com/283155/Store/Books.html - LamurDeZur, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2They didn't even contact Seth about offering the book in print on Amazon. And I think that was the "problem".
- blinkfink182, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Sensationalist? If anything was sensationalist it was your comment.
- scabbers, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Yeah he's such a genius he can't even pick the right licence.
- TKDWILSON, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3This is a good thing. Information should be free.
Eric Wilson - tim507, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2Seth Godin is the man,...just sayin'
- AntBing, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3AAAARGGH!! I can't believe it!! I bought that book yeasterday...
- zhulien, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2cool, I wonder if I can make some money of his book too
- asif5th, on 10/12/2007, -14/+2I'm getting on Amazon right now, and looking for more of these types of eBooks. One could make a major killing off this...as sleazy as it may be.
- redlemon, on 10/12/2007, -17/+4marketing at it's finest. buried.
- rudy23, on 10/12/2007, -22/+5Buried for Sensationalist Headline.
go read the Star magazine or something instead of submitting such junk
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