HI all.
I was at my favorite bookshop last week and bought a couple of books.
I saw the bag which had a sign "Save books! do not photocopy" When I got home
Books in English are very expensive here, and I was astonished at the remark since how would you save books by selling them SO expensive?
Perhaps they meant to keep them all at their shop "saved" from readers? as objects of art?
What is your point of view re books, copies, pirate copies etc.. ?
I once read a photocopy of Heart of Darkness. Loved the "book" yet would have preferred the real deal. (Good thing we have libraries where I live).
satan, we have libraries but Spanish is our language. I can get any book in Spanish froma library, but I happen to love to read in English so I just have to buy books, no big English books library available around...
Prices of books are 3 or 4x more expensive than what they are marked in the covers! is outrageous...
Why are books SO expensive!
I think everyone would agree that the real books should be bought in protection of the authors' and publishers' rights and benefits. If we just copy it, they have to way to live and continue their career. However, in my opinion, it's acceptable for students who don't have much money but always need lots of books for their studies. Just my 2 cents.
Here's a factoid. Some of you may be unaware that we Canadians typically see two prices quoted on the back cover of new books: a) the American dollar price and b) the same price in Canadian dollars, a cost always higher by about 20%. This is because our dollar has been valued less than the American dollar. *Note however that as of today, our dollar has again climbed to very near par----will we see a resultant reduction in book prices?
Save books! do not photocopy
Maybe it refers to the fact that flattening out books for photocopying breaks the spine and irreparably damages the book?
As to your question, I wouldn't buy a pirate copy of a book (or a CD, or a Gucci purse, etc.) because I prefer for my money to go to those legally entitled to it rather than to criminals.
Did you know that a considerable part of the money made from copyright piracy and other breaches of intellectual property laws goes into the pockets of terrorist organisations and organised crime syndicates and helps them to grow and carry on with their nefarious business? I'm sure you do.
It's easy to understand your frustration, because I live in a country where all books are expensive, not just the imported ones. However, this is where libraries and services like BookMooch can help.
As to making private copies, I have done that with books that were out of print or otherwise unavailable, but I prefer to have the real thing.
Icelander, I mostly buy books, even used books when I can.
I do not pirate them.. I just think the price is beyond outrageous here for books in other language than Spanish..
Keeping the prices high is a way to keep the people uneducated too.
Thank god for Project Gutenberg and other free sites...(and Laser printers!)
Classics are always good and free of royalties so available online for free.
I live in Australia where books are also expensive. I love my local library, but if they don't have what I want or I want something to keep long term I use bookdepository.co.uk.
They only time I bought photocopied books was in Cambodia.
I know I could check it myself nut.. what is bookdepository? free books or a place where to buy them?
It is outrageous the fees for sending books from abroad.. (I live at the end of the world I know, I should read just in Spanish ! or guarani!!:P) easier to find.
I think it is a conspiracy to keep us uninformed!!!ha!