No, it's idiot bankruptcy rules and a vicious publisher together. If you care so much about starving children in Africa (and I know you don't), why don't you go and help them instead of wasting time here?
Publishers still make money publishing old public domain books if they are popular enough. And you will always have the cachet of being the 'original' author. Who would sell more of a new 'Harry Potter' book - JK Rowling, or (say) EL James? Maybe it would give authors more incentive to occasionally revisit popular worlds.
As for Spaceballs, that is a great example of a film that 'steals' ideas from another great film - a prime example of how creating 'new' culture relies on using and transforming old culture, as much as it is about novel creativity. And if the people who made it have had a chance to make loads of money already, why would I cry if they suddenly lose that 'guaranteed' revenue stream? Did anyone/everyone working on the film get a fair share of that money? How much of that $10 went to the shop instead of the label?
Yes, but then they have to put their money where their mouth is and shell out increasingly painful amounts of money. And it stops them holding everyone else's IP hostage.
True, but we also see vast overuse of the words 'socialist' and 'communist' by people who really not only don't have a clue what they mean, but use them for people who in most of the world are centre-left to centre-right. Seriously - even Maggie (bless her little cotton shroud) never thought to mess with the NHS, and nor have the UK Constipation party, who are pulling crap even Saint Maggie wouldn't have dared do. Even these people would be labelled 'socialist commies' by far too many people who watch Faux or read Free Republic/Moonbattery.
And you're setting up a bit of a straw man. Maybe in one case that's the issue, but as a general principle, people go into physical stores to look directly at a product and maybe handle it, without automatically needing to 'pester' the staff - but it still costs the store to keep products on hand. Of course, getting 'expert' advice is another reason, but that's always been a problem - the internet has just added something else to the list - it could just as easily be the local Wal-Mart that gets the sale.
Any serious store that has to charge people to look at products, unless they have some sort of 'natural' monopoly or get a lot of 'desperate' custom, are going to find they get a lot less footfalls, and therefore sales. Unless they can somehow steer those customers to their own online offering and make it compelling enough.
So don't try to derail things with minor (and incomplete) quibbles. How about adding something to the discussion instead of trying to become OotB #2?
What was pointed out in the discussion in the UK about the fall and recovery of the camera company Jessops is that there has *always* been a problem of people coming to (specialist) bricks-and-mortar stores, then getting it cheaper in a store elsewhere, or even by mail order. This has been going on for a long long long time - it's part of the *point* of capitalism - you are supposed to be able to shop around for better prices.
What this also doesn't address is what happens when stores want to lower their own online or offline costs, or what happens when a bricks-and-mortar store is offering cheaper than an online one - or even, which offline costs are the baseline for this stupidity.
Still, you have to remember it's the French; they are pretty 'socialist' (i.e. protectionist) even by European standards, and notoriously averse to 'free' trade - just look at the strikes and blockades they throw up constantly when not getting their way economically.
British lamb? Mais non! Laissez-faire capitalism sur l'internet? Zut alors!
So illegal workers who are being illegally exploited by shady employers who don't declare anything to do with them are less 'slaves' then regular tax-paying citizens?
If you work but earn less than the amount you can be taxed on (UK anyway), does that somehow make you less of a 'slave' than someone who is earning enough to pay tax, even though it means you are either doing few hours or earning very little money?
Frankly, capitalism (and most other economic systems) make sure workers are labour 'slaves' regardless of whether taxes are paid.
One of the reasons that taxation is often used is that it benefits society as a whole to have decent broadband, just like it benefits society to have decent roads. But at least a Kickstarter would be a bit more accountable, hopefully.
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On the post: When You Sign Away Your Copyright To A Publisher, What If They Hold You Hostage Over It?
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On the post: When You Sign Away Your Copyright To A Publisher, What If They Hold You Hostage Over It?
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On the post: When You Sign Away Your Copyright To A Publisher, What If They Hold You Hostage Over It?
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As for Spaceballs, that is a great example of a film that 'steals' ideas from another great film - a prime example of how creating 'new' culture relies on using and transforming old culture, as much as it is about novel creativity. And if the people who made it have had a chance to make loads of money already, why would I cry if they suddenly lose that 'guaranteed' revenue stream? Did anyone/everyone working on the film get a fair share of that money? How much of that $10 went to the shop instead of the label?
On the post: When You Sign Away Your Copyright To A Publisher, What If They Hold You Hostage Over It?
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On the post: Fox Sends Cease & Desist Letters To Firefly Fans Selling Jayne Hats, Because Money
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So what productive addition to the comments have you added? Compared to Mike pointing out the judicial vs military natures of the comparison?
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On the post: French Politician Wants To Limit How Cheaply Companies Can Sell Goods Online Compared to Physical Shop Prices
Re: It wasn't about "buying them online"
Any serious store that has to charge people to look at products, unless they have some sort of 'natural' monopoly or get a lot of 'desperate' custom, are going to find they get a lot less footfalls, and therefore sales. Unless they can somehow steer those customers to their own online offering and make it compelling enough.
So don't try to derail things with minor (and incomplete) quibbles. How about adding something to the discussion instead of trying to become OotB #2?
On the post: French Politician Wants To Limit How Cheaply Companies Can Sell Goods Online Compared to Physical Shop Prices
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The only double taxation is when us poor grunts have to pay VAT on government-mandated duties such as on fuel and alcohol.
On the post: French Politician Wants To Limit How Cheaply Companies Can Sell Goods Online Compared to Physical Shop Prices
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What this also doesn't address is what happens when stores want to lower their own online or offline costs, or what happens when a bricks-and-mortar store is offering cheaper than an online one - or even, which offline costs are the baseline for this stupidity.
Still, you have to remember it's the French; they are pretty 'socialist' (i.e. protectionist) even by European standards, and notoriously averse to 'free' trade - just look at the strikes and blockades they throw up constantly when not getting their way economically.
British lamb? Mais non! Laissez-faire capitalism sur l'internet? Zut alors!
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Re: Re: What can we do?
If you work but earn less than the amount you can be taxed on (UK anyway), does that somehow make you less of a 'slave' than someone who is earning enough to pay tax, even though it means you are either doing few hours or earning very little money?
Frankly, capitalism (and most other economic systems) make sure workers are labour 'slaves' regardless of whether taxes are paid.
On the post: Oh Look, The Number Of People Employed In The Movie And Music Recording Business Just Hit An All Time High
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On the post: With Google Fiber On The Way, AT&T Fiber Customers Receive Free Boost To Connection Only 976 Mbps Slower Than Google's Connection
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