mel jacobson on sat 17 apr 10
we are in a rather serious quandary with the new book.
we had hoped to be able to sell the book as a dvd and
a pdf file of the text attached.
no matter how we see things, that pdf will be able to be
copied by someone. if that happens, the book goes on
sale for a dollar on ebay. so, at present we are only selling
the paper book, with the video/movies dvd etc. no pdf file.
so, here is the question:
is there a way, that anyone on clayart knows, to lock that
pdf. we know we can lock it one way, but that means we give
a key, and then it is ready to copy anyway.
this is a big issue for many of you out there that are selling
dvd's of your demo work. how many folks are ripping you
off making copies and giving them to friends?...hundreds.
i just talked to a dear friend/clayarter that has had his dvd's ripped
off repeatedly. and, by friends. like 40 copies for everyone at a
community center. they buy one, copy like mad.
we want to avoid the `oh, mel is a good guy, he won't care if
i print his book and give it to friends`..yah, sure. that is why
i have hired my friend bob white, litigation attorney to be on hand.
and, bob hates this rip off stuff...and will litigate.
(there is a fine line between internet, pdf, and printed material.)
this is a question that affects many of you that are interested in
writing, and doing video work. this issue must be addressed.
and, i am trying to lead here, get good information that will assist
our entire community. i have tried to let folks know how we do things,
and this will only help all of us. there are about a dozen clayarters who
are getting into quality dvd and writing projects. many are going to
publish privately.
mel
if you have help for me, send it back via private email to me, here
at melpots2.
i will pass it on to my friends at greatapes.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
John Rodgers on sat 17 apr 10
I can't speak for the younger set - but I would bet that most of us old
grayhair's and nohair's would rather have a printed book that a DVD. I
sure would. I like the feel of a book in my hand. I can take it where I
want to go and study it - no computer needed. Books cost more to
produce, but they are more secure.
Just my $0.02.
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 4/17/2010 8:03 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
> we are in a rather serious quandary with the new book.
> we had hoped to be able to sell the book as a dvd and
> a pdf file of the text attached.
>
> no matter how we see things, that pdf will be able to be
> copied by someone. if that happens, the book goes on
> sale for a dollar on ebay. so, at present we are only selling
> the paper book, with the video/movies dvd etc. no pdf file.
>
> so, here is the question:
> is there a way, that anyone on clayart knows, to lock that
> pdf. we know we can lock it one way, but that means we give
> a key, and then it is ready to copy anyway.
>
> this is a big issue for many of you out there that are selling
> dvd's of your demo work. how many folks are ripping you
> off making copies and giving them to friends?...hundreds.
>
> i just talked to a dear friend/clayarter that has had his dvd's ripped
> off repeatedly. and, by friends. like 40 copies for everyone at a
> community center. they buy one, copy like mad.
>
> we want to avoid the `oh, mel is a good guy, he won't care if
> i print his book and give it to friends`..yah, sure. that is why
> i have hired my friend bob white, litigation attorney to be on hand.
> and, bob hates this rip off stuff...and will litigate.
> (there is a fine line between internet, pdf, and printed material.)
>
> this is a question that affects many of you that are interested in
> writing, and doing video work. this issue must be addressed.
> and, i am trying to lead here, get good information that will assist
> our entire community. i have tried to let folks know how we do things,
> and this will only help all of us. there are about a dozen clayarters
> who
> are getting into quality dvd and writing projects. many are going to
> publish privately.
> mel
> if you have help for me, send it back via private email to me, here
> at melpots2.
> i will pass it on to my friends at greatapes.
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
>
>
Lee Love on sat 17 apr 10
Actually, OCR software has become pretty sophisticated. Hardcopy
books are not "safe."
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
steve graber on sat 17 apr 10
some how, some way, software i use such as SolidWorks (www,solidworks.com) =
=3D
uses internet connections to confirm their "home base" and any CD running "=
=3D
goes home" to confirm it's an official single copy.=3DA0 it's automatic to =
th=3D
e user.=3DA0 a ping to the home sight confirms it's new or copied.=3DA0 i d=
on't=3D
know how they do it, but they sure do.=3DA0 =3D0A=3DA0Steve Graber, Graber=
's Pot=3D
tery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe Steve Tool - for awesome te=
xtur=3D
e on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com =3D0A=3D0A=
=3D0AOn L=3D
aguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/ =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=
=3D0A----- O=3D
riginal Message ----=3D0A> From: mel jacobson =3D0A> To:=
Cla=3D
yart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Sent: Sat, April 17, 2010 6:03:32 AM=3D0A> Subj=
ect:=3D
question/pdf's and books/rip offs=3D0A> =3D0A> we are in a rather serious =
quan=3D
dary with the new book.=3D0Awe had hoped to be =3D0A> able to sell the book=
as =3D
a dvd and=3D0Aa pdf file of the text attached.=3D0A=3D0Ano =3D0A> matter ho=
w we see=3D
things, that pdf will be able to be=3D0Acopied by =3D0A> someone.=3DA0 if =
that h=3D
appens, the book goes on=3D0Asale for a dollar on =3D0A> ebay.=3DA0 so, at =
presen=3D
t we are only selling=3D0Athe paper book, with the =3D0A> video/movies dvd =
etc.=3D
=3DA0 no pdf file.=3D0A=3D0Aso, here is the question:=3D0Ais =3D0A> there a=
way, that=3D
anyone on clayart knows, to lock that=3D0Apdf.=3DA0 we know we =3D0A> can =
lock i=3D
t one way, but that means we give=3D0Aa key, and then it is ready to =3D0A>=
cop=3D
y anyway.=3D0A=3D0Athis is a big issue for many of you out there that are =
=3D0A> =3D
selling=3D0Advd's of your demo work.=3DA0 how many folks are ripping you=3D=
0Aoff =3D
=3D0A> making copies and giving them to friends?...hundreds.=3D0A=3D0Ai jus=
t talk=3D
ed to a =3D0A> dear friend/clayarter that has had his dvd's ripped=3D0Aoff =
repe=3D
atedly.=3DA0 =3D0A> and, by friends.=3DA0 like 40 copies for everyone at a=
=3D0Acomm=3D
unity =3D0A> center.=3DA0 they buy one, copy like mad.=3D0A=3D0Awe want to =
avoid th=3D
e `oh, mel =3D0A> is a good guy, he won't care if=3D0Ai print his book and =
give=3D
it to =3D0A> friends`..yah, sure.=3DA0 that is why=3D0Ai have hired my fri=
end bo=3D
b white, =3D0A> litigation attorney to be on hand.=3D0Aand, bob hates this =
rip =3D
off stuff...and =3D0A> will litigate.=3D0A(there is a fine line between int=
erne=3D
t, pdf, and printed =3D0A> material.)=3D0A=3D0Athis is a question that affe=
cts ma=3D
ny of you that are =3D0A> interested in=3D0Awriting, and doing video work.=
=3DA0 t=3D
his issue must be =3D0A> addressed.=3D0Aand, i am trying to lead here, get =
good=3D
information that will =3D0A> assist=3D0Aour entire community.=3DA0 i have =
tried =3D
to let folks know how we do =3D0A> things,=3D0Aand this will only help all =
of u=3D
s.=3DA0 there are about a dozen =3D0A> clayarters who=3D0Aare getting into =
qualit=3D
y dvd and writing projects.=3DA0 many =3D0A> are going to=3D0Apublish priva=
tely.=3D
=3D0Amel=3D0Aif you have help for me, send it =3D0A> back via private email=
to me=3D
, here=3D0Aat melpots2.=3D0Ai will pass it on to my =3D0A> friends at great=
apes.=3D
=3D0Afrom: minnetonka, mn=3D0Awebsite: > href=3D3D"http://www.visi.com/~mel=
pots/"=3D
target=3D3D_blank =3D0A> >http://www.visi.com/~melpots/=3D0Aclayart link:=
=3DA0 > h=3D
ref=3D3D"http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html" target=3D3D_blank =3D0A=
> >htt=3D
p://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html=3D0Anew book: > href=3D3D"http://www=
.21s=3D
tcenturykilns.com" target=3D3D_blank =3D0A> >http://www.21stcenturykilns.co=
m=3D0A=3D
=3D0A=3D0A
David Hendley on sat 17 apr 10
Mel is correct, this is a dilemma and a big problem for anyone
selling intellectual property that can be digitized.
It seems like even if you add some sort of copy protection
the thieves immediately figure out a way around it.
CD sales are in the toilet, and Amazon is experimenting with
drastic price reductions to try to get people to buy them,
like 4 or 5 dollars for a formally $15 CD.
There are so many free videos on You-Tube, some people
now expect everything to free. I know my DVDs have
been illegally copied.
I have recently read 2 books by successful entrepreneurs
about doing business in the "Web 2.0" age. Both basically
say that you have to give away content. The idea is to
build you "personal brand", which will result in customer
loyalty and purchases in the future. I'm having trouble
buying into this. It reminds me of the promoter who asks
for a piece of art for a silent auction, with the promise that
the "exposure" will be good for you and bring future business.
So, if I were selling a book, I would forgo a digital version.
A printed book can still be copied, but it takes time and
costs more. Key pages will still be copied and handed out,
but it's better than having the whole book easily reproduced.
Personally, I would pay more to have a "real" book I can
hold in my hands, especially a book with specification for
building things. The average 20-year-old probably feels
differently.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> we are in a rather serious quandary with the new book.
> we had hoped to be able to sell the book as a dvd and
> a pdf file of the text attached.
>
> no matter how we see things, that pdf will be able to be
> copied by someone. if that happens, the book goes on
> sale for a dollar on ebay. so, at present we are only selling
> the paper book, with the video/movies dvd etc. no pdf file.
>
> so, here is the question:
> is there a way, that anyone on clayart knows, to lock that
> pdf. we know we can lock it one way, but that means we give
> a key, and then it is ready to copy anyway.
>
> this is a big issue for many of you out there that are selling
> dvd's of your demo work. how many folks are ripping you
> off making copies and giving them to friends?...hundreds.
Brandon Schwartz on sun 18 apr 10
A few thoughts/questions:
It seems our little planet is becoming more and more digital every day.
Some people say that PDFs are worthless and nobody wants them but the Kindl=
e
(digital book reader) is the number one selling electronic device on
Amazon.com. And at least one person said that they prefer the PDF on their
computer and scan books themselves. So I think a PDF is not totally
worthless. Personally, I would buy the actual paper and ink book but it
would be nice to have a PDF copy as well. If I recall, some PDFs are
searchable. So I could type in a topic or phrase and let the computer find
it for me instead of scanning through every page of the book myself.
The problem is that all this digital-ness seems to be easier to reproduce
and "share". I'd like to know if there is a limit for educational
"sharing". I've had teachers make copies from books in the name of
education. Is there a page limit or percentage that can be legally copied
and passed out to a class? And I would think you could show a video to you=
r
class but can you copy part of the video and hand it out?
Some people say give away free content to "hook" your customers. It sounds
good in theory but you have to know how to turn those people into paying
customers (and I'm no businessman...) What about a PDF file that has a
"trial" version of the book? Maybe like an outline or just a brief summary
of each chapter? Then you could have something to go along with the DVD bu=
t
if you want the more specific details you can get the page-and-ink book. O=
r
what about an ebook publisher? Do they have any special copy protection
services? Like maybe a link and license on the DVD to view the PDF from th=
e
publisher? But then I guess the DVD could be copied as well.... Are you
worried about the DVD being copied?
I've bought software with an eLicense key before. If I remember right it
provides a digital license for a single computer. So even though I could
give the program to someone else, it wouldn't open on their computer unless
they buy a license. There is Document and File service here:
http://www.elicense.com/e-book-publishers.aspx
I'm sure it would take some work but I bet any copy protection could be
broken. Even a page-and-ink book can be copied with a copy machine. Maybe=
,
if this book is as great as I think it's going to be, the illegal copies
will lead people to buy their own copies.
Mel, whatever you decide to do, thanks for all the hard work. There are a
number of books that I plan to buy eventually and your kiln book is
definitely on the list.
Brandon "Fuzzy" Schwartz
Art by Fuzzy
Pottery Making Info
Eric Hansen on sun 18 apr 10
Mel: I am a 35+ year veteran in the printing industry and of course the
industry is in a huge slump because of unauthorized copy of information. My
advice is only make digital what you are willing to give away (like we do
here at Clayart) and get your book printed and priced for less than what it
can be copied for. Keep in touch with your attorney because pdf versions
will probably surface, some of the content can be used under fair use laws,
such as classrooms who excerpt certain passages - but this is being
challenged in court cases too.
h a n s e n
On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 9:03 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
> we are in a rather serious quandary with the new book.
> we had hoped to be able to sell the book as a dvd and
> a pdf file of the text attached.
>
> no matter how we see things, that pdf will be able to be
> copied by someone. if that happens, the book goes on
> sale for a dollar on ebay. so, at present we are only selling
> the paper book, with the video/movies dvd etc. no pdf file.
>
> so, here is the question:
> is there a way, that anyone on clayart knows, to lock that
> pdf. we know we can lock it one way, but that means we give
> a key, and then it is ready to copy anyway.
>
> this is a big issue for many of you out there that are selling
> dvd's of your demo work. how many folks are ripping you
> off making copies and giving them to friends?...hundreds.
>
> i just talked to a dear friend/clayarter that has had his dvd's ripped
> off repeatedly. and, by friends. like 40 copies for everyone at a
> community center. they buy one, copy like mad.
>
> we want to avoid the `oh, mel is a good guy, he won't care if
> i print his book and give it to friends`..yah, sure. that is why
> i have hired my friend bob white, litigation attorney to be on hand.
> and, bob hates this rip off stuff...and will litigate.
> (there is a fine line between internet, pdf, and printed material.)
>
> this is a question that affects many of you that are interested in
> writing, and doing video work. this issue must be addressed.
> and, i am trying to lead here, get good information that will assist
> our entire community. i have tried to let folks know how we do things,
> and this will only help all of us. there are about a dozen clayarters wh=
o
> are getting into quality dvd and writing projects. many are going to
> publish privately.
> mel
> if you have help for me, send it back via private email to me, here
> at melpots2.
> i will pass it on to my friends at greatapes.
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
>
Anthony Ferguson on sun 18 apr 10
Mel,
I think its time to go Moses--carve the book into clay and sell clay slabs!
Who said cuneiform was a dead written language?
Tony
On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 10:40 PM, Lee Love wrote:
> Actually, OCR software has become pretty sophisticated. Hardcopy
> books are not "safe."
>
> --
> Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
> http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
>
> =3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
> the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
>
--=3D20
Cheers,
Tony
__________________________
Tony Ferguson, MA Visual Arts
Artist/Educator
http://www.tonyferguson.net
http://www.fergyphoto.com
Workshops, Training & Online Education
John Britt on sun 18 apr 10
mel,
I wanted to make sure my book was cheaper than it would cost to Xerox it.=
=3D
(I
used to get books by interlibrary loan and Xerox them.) So you are better=
=3D
off buying my book with color images and with a nice binding than copying=
=3D
it. It is $12.21 on Amazon, new.=3D20
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-High-Fire-Glazes-Ceramics/dp/1600592=
=3D
163/ref=3D3Dsr_1_1?ie=3D3DUTF8&s=3D3Dbooks&qid=3D3D1269436752&sr=3D3D8-=3D
1
(Of course you don't make as much money that way! But I never thought tha=
=3D
t
making money was the main purpose anyway.)
But another option for you would be to publish it on Amazon's Kindle.=3D20
https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin
Don't know how your images would do but they would be in black and white=
=3D
.=3D20=3D20
Hope it helps,
John Britt
Rebecca Catterall on mon 19 apr 10
Mel - try self-publishing your book. The publishing world has changed. We=
=3D
=3D20
have had good luck with Create Space. Google it and you'll see it is att=
=3D
ached=3D20
to Amazon so selling is seamless. And we are even making some money=3D20
through sales.
Good luck with any decision you make.
Rebecca Catterall
Carl Cravens on tue 20 apr 10
(Hi, all. I was on clayart for awhile about five years ago. Finally got i=
nto a situation I can set up my wheel, and recently started taking classes =
again at a relatively new studio down the street. So I'm back. And clayar=
t is talking about controversial things, as usual. :)
This is an interesting topic for me, being that I own an ebook reader for n=
ovels, a cheap netbook as a portable "internet reference book" around the h=
ouse, and a laptop that belongs to my employer but sits by my recliner most=
of the time.
I read pretty much all of my fiction on the ebook reader. I've purchased a=
large number of PDFs, some for printing, some for on-screen reference. I =
can rotate the display on my netbook with single keypress, and reading PDFs=
on it is fairly easy that way... physically, it's a lot like reading a har=
dback book. So despite being a new face around here, I think I have input w=
orth adding.
For every person who says "PDFs aren't useful, I can't read them curled up =
in my chair by the fire or haul them out to my kiln building site" there's =
someone else who finds the paper book annoyingly difficult. I don't want t=
o elaborate on the point too much... but don't project your preferences or =
situation on the potential customer. I vastly prefer ebooks over paper boo=
ks for almost all uses at this point because I have the right tools to take=
advantage of them. (And no space for more paper books!)
It's all about the tools we have and how we're used to using them. And the=
tools, they are a changin'. Just because you don't have a smart phone, an=
ebook reader, a netbook/laptop, or a printer that's actually affordable to=
print with, doesn't mean your potential audience doesn't. (I'm not all ab=
out the gadgets... I pay about $80 a YEAR for my non-smart cell phone, and=
my netbook is a $150 refurbished unit. The other devices technically belo=
ng to my employer.)
Now about publishing. In the model rocketry hobby, they have a saying... "=
If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to fly it." Every time yo=
u ignite a rocket motor under your baby, you have to accept that this may b=
e the last time you see it in one piece, or at all. Publishing is much the=
same... if you cannot accept that people are going to copy your work, the =
only solution is not to publish. If you publish, it will be copied, one wa=
y or another.
So, the first thought most people have is the one Mel had... essentially, "=
How do I make it harder for them to copy it?"
But the next question you should ask is... "If I make it hard to copy it, h=
ow will that affect my *legitimate* customers? Will it annoy the people wh=
o paid me their hard-earned cash? Will it *cause lost sales*?"
Here's my answer to that question: No copy-protection has ever stopped copy=
ing. All it does is annoy legitimate customers and *drive away* potential =
customers who don't want to hassle with it. The "pirates" *know* how to br=
eak your copy-protection... assume your legitimate customers don't. So you=
disadvantage your customers and barely even slow down the pirates. Will y=
ou *lose sales* by putting copy-protection on your digital content? Quite =
possibly. I don't buy digital content unless I know I can crack the protec=
tion. (Thus ensuring that I will always have access to the content, even if=
the company goes out of business, I change hardware or software, or just f=
orget the stupid password or lose the key file... this is not an imaginary =
concern. I have a lot of content purchased in just the last few years that=
I would not be able to use otherwise.)
On the effects of piracy on sales: The full effect of Internet piracy is ve=
ry unclear, and most "studies" have done by someone in the industry with an=
agenda. Yet some video game companies have found that piracy of their gam=
es has possibly lead to increased popularity and higher than predicted sale=
s. O'Reilly Media (a well-established publisher of computer books) has car=
efully evaluated the effects of offering PDFs of their paper books... not o=
nly do they offer PDFs of most of their books and an online library subscri=
ption, they offer free read-online versions of some of their current books.=
O'Reilly's books are some of the most-pirated computer reference books...=
but at the same time O'Reilly is a pioneer in digital book delivery. Thei=
r ebook sales rose 104% in 2009... at a time when the overall demand for pa=
per computer books across the industry has been falling and their paper boo=
ks declined in sales at a similar rate to their competitors. The short ver=
sion of that is
: they're selling digital content to people who wouldn't have bought the pa=
per book. And they're selling digital content *despite* the ease of piracy=
. You can find every one of their new books on pirate sites just hours aft=
er the book is released. Providing digital book downloads has *increased* =
their overall sales compared to the rest of the industry.
In summary, I think avoiding a sales channel due to potential piracy may be=
cutting off your nose to spite your face. Maybe in this case your target =
audience isn't inclined to want a PDF anyway... or maybe there's an untappe=
d audience and increased sales waiting for authors who are willing to take =
that risk. I really don't know. But I do know that, at least for me, a di=
gital download always increases the chance I'll buy something, especially i=
f it's of good quality and less expensive than the physical copy (at least =
I'm not paying shipping).
When it comes down to it, there really isn't anything you can do about pira=
cy... if your book or video is any good, people are going to copy it. It's =
a hard pill to swallow, but it's going to happen, and worrying about someth=
ing you can't change is a waste of energy. If your publishing strategy is =
based around trying to prevent something you really can't prevent, you're f=
ocusing on the wrong target... focus on getting the product into as many pa=
ying, *appreciative* hands as you can. Focus on creating fans and spreadin=
g the word. Trying to keep it out of the hands of the copiers is going to =
keep it out of the hands of potential customers as well.
If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to fly it. But if you're =
going to fly it, fly the hell out of it and get all the altitude you can.
(Addendum: This is something that surprised me: I can find *no* pottery-rel=
ated materials on a very popular file sharing site. Many other arts and cr=
afts are well represented, but pottery isn't... and I searched for several =
different keywords. Despite reported instances of mass copying at the phys=
ical level (a DVD copied for an entire class), there seems to be a below-av=
erage level of copying of pottery-related materials on the Internet. I *re=
ally* expected to find scans of the higher-priced or hard-to-find books, an=
d especially copies of DVDs, since those are easier to copy. I didn't find=
a single video. No "cracked" copies of the popular glaze calculators. Th=
e closest thing I found to a pottery book is "Ceramic and Glass Materials -=
Structure, Properties and Processing" which appears to be a $130 text book=
aimed at engineers. Just that one book. I can find many videos and books=
on *knitting*, but not pottery. Maybe potters aren't so big on copying as=
some seem to t
hink.)
--
Carl D Cravens (raven@phoenyx.net)
If this were an actual tagline, it would be funny.
John Britt on tue 20 apr 10
mel,
Just saw that Stephen King has a new book out and it starts selling today=
=3D
as
an e-book from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Sony.
Then May 25 as a print/hardback.
The hardback includes a bonus section. (Morality)
http://www.stephenking.com/index.html
John Britt
www.johnbrittpottery.com
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