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If you want to experiment, the website for downloading is http://www.flock.com
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ZDNet Description of the Flog Project
John Battelle writes critizing the AAP (Association of American Publishers) decision to sue Google over plans to digitize copyrighted work.
I really don’t get this. I have been both a publisher and an author, and I have to tell you, these guys sue for one reason and one reason alone, from what I can tell: Their legacy business model is imperiled, and they fear change
Hmmm – I do not disagree with the prediction regarding the legacy model. I disagree with the position that follows – what is illegal is illegal. The Napster mentality (we were offering a service and never advocated anyone using it for improper ends) is a weak excuse.
If the legacy model is dead, create a viable alternative.
1) Make use of open source resources. Create and offer your own content in this fashion if you are willing.
2) Encourage changes in copyright law
3) Support companies attempting to provide cost-effective alternatives
etc.
Like Batelle, I am also an author. I would like to practice my craft in a different way and I hope my publisher and other publishers move toward different models of content distribution and revenue collection. I believe publishing companies will change when someone comes up with a different business model.
Some observations:
a) Cost to the customer is too high and return to the producers are too low. How can this be? In my opinion, delivery costs and multiple resales which return no money to those creating content are the primary culprits. When you purchase a used book, you are driving up the cost of new books? This is reality. I believe those who desire hard copy content should accept this reality. People presently have the right to resell an object they have purchased. The push back from this reality is that content creators must make their profit on the only sale they control (the sale of the original product). I think the solution to this situation may be to move away from the hard copy concept. Check out the difference in cost between popular books and textbooks.
b) Learning resources need to be generated in ways that allow greater flexibility to the learner. In the field in which I work (integration of technology), flexibility is limited when 1) resources are out of date, 2) resources are generic offering limited perspectives relevant to different age groups, content areas, etc.