Getting Real about Getting Real
2006.03.02
37Signals released their book Getting Real as a PDF. I’m sure the book is excellent, but I can’t say the same about the terms and conditions under which it is released. If it were a printed book, I would have been free to share it with my friends, but if I buy this PDF, I have to agree that it’ll reside only on my computer, only to be seen by me. 37Signals are not the first to use this PDF distribution model, but it’s the first book where I really felt the hurt; it’s one book I’d love to have, if not for the need to compromise my freedom and agree to be an asshole by not sharing it with others.
This Rights ManagedFreedom Compromised model is nothing new. Most proprietary software works like that. Most digial entertainment sources have the same restrictions.
It’s sad to see the story of The Right to Read coming true in our lifetime.
For Dan Halbert, the road to Tycho began in college—when Lissa Lenz asked to borrow his computer. Hers had broken down, and unless she could borrow another, she would fail her midterm project. There was no one she dared ask, except Dan.
This put Dan in a dilemma. He had to help her—but if he lent her his computer, she might read his books. Aside from the fact that you could go to prison for many years for letting someone else read your books, the very idea shocked him at first. Like everyone, he had been taught since elementary school that sharing books was nasty and wrong—something that only pirates would do.
Digital publications need a new way of distribution, and that’s something we need to come up with very soon. It should be a model where the authors and publishers benefit while the readers are allowed to make the full use of modern ways of knowledge sharing.
I for one wish 37Signals did it the traditional way. Or perhaps I could buy the site-license copy and declare my “site” to be the WWW itself?
12 Comments
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sittingnut
March 3rd, 2006 at 3:22 am
rules (especially government ones) are there to be broken. that is why your story will never come true.
Mahangu
March 3rd, 2006 at 6:06 am
I totally agree, sharing rocks. One of the reasons I switched to a FOSS operating system was because it advocated those rights so strongly. Isn’t sharing (especially a book) one of the little joys of life?
I’m surprised 37 Signals went about it this way. It doesn’t make sense. Every single web startup wannabe is going to buy that book and have it in print anyway. Why didn’t they just sell / ship print versions, and have a (crippled?) pdf download for those who wanted to sample it.
I’m pretty sure Vesess would have invested in a copy anyway, regardless of shipping costs. The 49$ license is abstruse at best - A site-license copy which I can distribute within my company or organization. Yeah, what does that mean? What about the people who work part time for us? The freelancers we might employ? What if we grow in the future, and have say, 50 employees. Can we show it to them?
The single user license. What if you print out the pdf, and I have a look at it (as in, not actually give me the digital file, but a print out which you made for your personal use)? What if I read it while it’s on your computer? It’s all very impractical at best, and in the long run, I think they’re going to make less money than they would have made on a tradtional print distribution model.
All in all, this is something I didn’t see coming from 37S. Bad move boys, Stallman is going to pwn your ass for this. Of course, that is, if it even manages to make a blip on his radar screen. :)
Lakshan
March 3rd, 2006 at 10:01 am
This is not one of the best things done by 37s, I guess. As Mahagu said this is impractical, cos even when I buy my copy I will print it out. So then physically they cannot restrict me from sharing my printed copy with someone.
I think they came up with this policy assuming people will read it from their moniter. (BTW is this PDF is disabled for printing ??) But I think most of the people still feel comfortable reading a book sitting in couch.
They would have made more money also people would have enjoyed their book if they chose the traditional way.
Prabhath
March 3rd, 2006 at 10:11 am
Lakshan, AFAIK, you can print copies of the book. Read the comments by Jason on this post at SVN blog.
What’s intriguing is whether you’re allowed to share the printed copy, although you’re not allowed to share the PDF. Most probably not.
What good is a book only you can read in your privacy?
Phu
March 3rd, 2006 at 2:59 pm
The big problem is that they’ve taken something away (ease of sharing, comfort of reading hard copy) without giving back an appreciable gain.
If, for example, the price was lowered (feasible since their margins are so much higher), it would be a less of an issue. As it is, it feels less of a deal.
Oliver Nielsen
March 6th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Jesus Christ Superstar. The license is only there as a precaution. If it hadn’t been there some people would take it they can freely copy and share.
If you wanna show you friend show your friend. It’s not like 37signals have teamed up with Echelon, and will throw you on Guantanamo if you show it to a friend!
I for one, bought the book, and will certainly not be distributing it, but I will read it, and I will probably also lend out my copy to a friend.
About the format; well - it’s their book - they decide the format - you can buy it or not buy it.
All that said, I think the price is rather high for an e-book. Their old book, in paperback, is cheaper on Amazon.com at §17.
Prabhath
March 6th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Careful there Oliver.
If I buy it, I will too, but that doesn’t make it any more legal. The license does not allow you to share in any way.
I’m not “dissing” 37Signals - this book is just one instance of how the so called IP laws are changing the world. For the worse.
Oliver Nielsen
March 7th, 2006 at 4:59 am
You’re right - but it’s also not legal to photocopy it had it been a paperback book … But lending your friend the printed version of the PDF is literally the same as lending him/her the paperback. License or not.
The whole issue is because it is SO MUCH EASIER to copy a single file / PDF, instead of having to manually copy every single spread of a whole paperback book.
I agree with you that intellectual property sucks. But it just ain’t that easy. Imagine you had done a product and decided you wanted to make money on it, and not release it for free…
It all comes down to the fact that people have to think for themselves, and stay true to their ethics. All software is available “free” illegally. You can pay. You should pay. But you can get away with not paying. Lot’s of people are not paying. Licenses are rubber rubbish. They are there because they have to be there.
The world looks like democracy - but the real ruling factor is indeed anarchy. Specially true for the web.
The law says it’s illegal for me to cross the street if the lights are red. Do I do it anyway if there are no crossing cars and blind angles? Yes for fucks sake I do.
I paid for my book - And I think it’s a good book - bottomline for me is that I think it is worth more than I paid for it ;-)
AD
March 12th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Does this mean that you are open to the idea of sharing the getting real book to anyone who asks… if so, I would like to have a gander.. please forward me a copy of this e-book, (or alternatively post a detailed summary of each chapter in the book)
Prabhath
March 12th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
AD: Sharing the book is illegal, which is what this post is all about :-)
Besides, I haven’t bought it.
Mugen
March 26th, 2006 at 10:49 am
Rules are meant to be broken, I mean come on how many people actually follow the rules as far as sharing content ?
Arpan
May 22nd, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Legally, no company can prevent you or me from sharing our books with our friends.
With e-books, you are prevented because you would be giving them a copy of the book, and not the original.
So, if you print out only one copy of the book, and then share them among your friends, that should be fine, and no license can prevent you from doing that.
A licence that prevents me from sharing the printed book with my friend would be illegal. My act of sharing is quite legal. (provided of course you are sharing the book, not printing multiple copies).