I am a huge fan of libraries. I also like the IA. I do not like their attempt to put copyrighted work out there for free against creators or publishers wishes.
The IA put a lot of our books online for free. Making us opt out instead of asking us to opt in? Not great. I sent them DMCA takedown notices (great way to spend an afternoon) and they took them down.
We publish a few books a year, some books earn out their advances, some don't. Hundreds of libraries buy our books. If the IA want to be a regular library they can act like one. It's not them vs. the evil empire — unless they're fighting Amehzon in some way I don't know. It's them setting themselves up against writers/publishers everywhere including tiny publishers and writers who don't want to put their names out there as being against pirates because who needs the internet to come down on them? No one.
There is a real friction in how ebooks are sold and lent out and trying to get writers paid which has not been sorted out yet.
Do I think the IA should get paid here? No. (Although who cares what I think.) I find the fundraising here kind of icky. Get a library card and borrow some free ebooks and listen to some free audiobooks. Get some free books from a Little Free Library. Don't rip people off. Could it be easier?
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