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. :)

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ;-)

Besides, I haven’t bought it.

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).