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Tim O'Reilly Says Piracy is Progressive Taxation

Posted by chrisd on from the tim-has-a-good-brain dept.

Idmat writes "In Tim's latest opus, he reflects on the lessons of his experience as a publisher: (1) Obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy, (2) Piracy is progressive taxation; (3) Customers want to do the right thing, if they can; (4)Shoplifting is a bigger threat than piracy; (5) File sharing networks don't threaten book, music, or film publishing. They threaten existing publishers; (6)"Free" is eventually replaced by a higher-quality paid service; and finally, courtesy of Larry Wall, (7)There's more than one way to do it. "

8 of 497 comments (clear)

  1. Obvious by leoboiko · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course piracy doesn't hurt book publishers. How many writers work in the sea? Pirates only rob ships, you know.

    --
    Prescriptive grammar:linguistics :: alchemy:chemistry. Stop being a nazi and learn some science.
    1. Re:Obvious by wd123 · · Score: 3, Funny

      What about space pirates? :(

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      "question = (to) ? be : !be;" --Shakespeare
  2. Re:Piracy is GOOD by capitalsucks · · Score: 4, Funny

    Which is why I like shoplifting better than piracy, since I have a 56k and all..

    --
    "I feel it is my duty to look at the porn that kids download before I delete it, to be sure what it is."--School Admin
  3. Re:Piracy is GOOD by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 5, Funny

    Which is why I like shoplifting better than piracy, since I have a 56k and all..

    Never underestimate the bandwidth of Raiders jacket stuffed full of CDs.

  4. Re:Metaphor Faux Pas by larien · · Score: 5, Funny
    denile is a great thing
    Yup, and so is deamazon, dedanube, demississippi and dethames.
  5. Re:So no we have reasons to steal by jck2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    People like stealing if it is anonymous, easy, and leaves no possibility of getting caught

    To quote Nelson from the Simpsons, "It's a victimless crime, like when you punch someone in the dark."

  6. Re:Obvious Really! by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

    I agree. Just look at all the text on slashdot...very unpleasant reading.

    Could I interest you in a copy of Slashdot in dead tree form? $19.95 + 4.95 S&H.

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  7. I always buy CD's by Suppafly · · Score: 4, Funny

    I always buy CD's after downloading and listening to mp3's.

    Blank CD's.