Comments on: Google print: doing no evil http://www.p2pnet.net/story/6592 p2pnet.net - reader powered Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:11:09 -0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/6592/comment-page-1#comment-22350 Reader's Write Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:56:40 +0000 #comment-22350 To understand why there is an outcry against Google Print you need to think about this service from the perspective of a current generation copyright holders, which are far too often paper-pushing publishing companies. Any access you have to old works, especially works in the public domain, is seen as competition for your purchase to buy new books from traditional book distribution systems. I do believe that a Google Library will harm the monopolistic interests of current publishers. If the works of the past and the works of independant authors are given equal footing with the works of "famous" authors promoted by the publishers, then more people may be reading these alternatives. While this is better for independant authors and society as a whole, it isn't good for the special interests of the legacy publishers. When the electric lightbulb came along we didn't worry so much about the legacy candle makers, and I believe that we should be looking at the legacy book publishers in the same way. To understand why there is an outcry against Google Print you need to think about this service from the perspective of a current generation copyright holders, which are far too often paper-pushing publishing companies.

Any access you have to old works, especially works in the public domain, is seen as competition for your purchase to buy new books from traditional book distribution systems.

I do believe that a Google Library will harm the monopolistic interests of current publishers. If the works of the past and the works of independant authors are given equal footing with the works of “famous” authors promoted by the publishers, then more people may be reading these alternatives. While this is better for independant authors and society as a whole, it isn’t good for the special interests of the legacy publishers.

When the electric lightbulb came along we didn’t worry so much about the legacy candle makers, and I believe that we should be looking at the legacy book publishers in the same way.

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/6592/comment-page-1#comment-22349 Reader's Write Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:50:27 +0000 #comment-22349 I believe it is important for people to be aware of Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ (Canadian project to be launched soon at http://www.gutenbergcanada.org/ - join the list at http://lists.pglaf.org/listinfo.cgi/pgcanada ). This is a fully volunteer project to make works in the public domain available. Too many organizaitons are doing their own thing, rather than collaborating to get more done with less resources. I believe it is important for people to be aware of Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/ (Canadian project to be launched soon
at http://www.gutenbergcanada.org/ – join the list at http://lists.pglaf.org/listinfo.cgi/pgcanada ).

This is a fully volunteer project to make works in the public domain available. Too many organizaitons are doing their own thing, rather than collaborating to get more done with less resources.

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/6592/comment-page-1#comment-22307 Reader's Write Sat, 15 Oct 2005 02:17:13 +0000 #comment-22307 ... they will move on to audio, and then video (both of which are also available at the library). Imagine the catalog they could build from those sources as well! … they will move on to audio, and then video (both of which are also available at the library). Imagine the catalog they could build from those sources as well!

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/6592/comment-page-1#comment-22269 Reader's Write Fri, 14 Oct 2005 10:19:23 +0000 #comment-22269 Honestly, I dont see the difference between what google is doing, and a library card catalog... But, I also dont see any difference between the idea that google will make an Online Library, compared to a real library! Why not? people will still go to normal libraries... because a lot of people prefer the feel of a book, and can't read on a computer screen as long as others... but a digital Library is a wonderful idea, to make book available to everyone! And it doesn't do anything to the book industry, that a Library doesn't already do. Just a thought... but I honestly can't see why a Google Library is a bad idea... O.o Honestly, I dont see the difference between what google is doing, and a library card catalog…

But, I also dont see any difference between the idea that google will make an Online Library, compared to a real library!

Why not? people will still go to normal libraries… because a lot of people prefer the feel of a book, and can’t read on a computer screen as long as others… but a digital Library is a wonderful idea, to make book available to everyone! And it doesn’t do anything to the book industry, that a Library doesn’t already do.

Just a thought… but I honestly can’t see why a Google Library is a bad idea… O.o

]]>