I regret joining this topic because I think it invites arguments that are only philosophical and people are generally unlikely to change their minds from what they already believe. For example, when I read your comment I already know I disagree with you, and have but to set my fingertips to the keyboard to let the disagreement flow. In the same way, I know you'll disagree with me, and it's hard for me to see how there is anything productive here.
Violating copyright takes potential sales. Those have value. For example, if you had a product worth X dollars, and people had a Y chance of buying it, you could sell the rights to your product based on that value.
Our society respects the concept of potential sales or potential value in many ways. If I lie and say that your restaurant is filled with rats, what am I costing you, if not potential sales? I could sell options contracts that have potential value. If I break the fingers of a master pianist or a surgeon I may be sued for a greater amount of damages than if I broke the fingers of any professional who doesn't need manual dexterity.
Potential value is the basis for lots of business and productive endeavors. It's why society respects intellectual property rights, to give creators a chance to earn something from their work, which, without the supporting legal framework, would be hard to monetize.
I went to Amazon and looked at a top 10 list. The first five books available in paperback and Kindle format are:
Kindle is, on average, 64% the cost of a paperback. Combine that with greater functionality and ease of use, and I think the Kindle format is a winner.
Violating copyright takes potential sales. Those have value. For example, if you had a product worth X dollars, and people had a Y chance of buying it, you could sell the rights to your product based on that value.
Our society respects the concept of potential sales or potential value in many ways. If I lie and say that your restaurant is filled with rats, what am I costing you, if not potential sales? I could sell options contracts that have potential value. If I break the fingers of a master pianist or a surgeon I may be sued for a greater amount of damages than if I broke the fingers of any professional who doesn't need manual dexterity.
Potential value is the basis for lots of business and productive endeavors. It's why society respects intellectual property rights, to give creators a chance to earn something from their work, which, without the supporting legal framework, would be hard to monetize.
I went to Amazon and looked at a top 10 list. The first five books available in paperback and Kindle format are:
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Literature-Fiction...
https://www.amazon.com/Opium-Absinthe-Novel-Lydia-Kang-ebook..., 4.99, 10.99 https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Jar-Detective-Kirby-Book-ebook/d... https://www.amazon.com/Book-Woman-Troublesome-Creek-Novel-eb... https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Elses-Secret-Julia-Spiro-eboo... https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/07...
Average Kindle price: 7.51
Average paperback price: 11.7
Kindle is, on average, 64% the cost of a paperback. Combine that with greater functionality and ease of use, and I think the Kindle format is a winner.