tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post8442495107892749228..comments2023-12-16T16:50:25.810-08:00Comments on The Heart of the Matter: Authors Guild Report: AG Membership Impoverishes Authors (And It’s Amazon’s Fault)!Barry Eislerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-74430725810763365642015-09-15T11:46:38.525-07:002015-09-15T11:46:38.525-07:00And a few other things I should have realized earl...And a few other things I should have realized earlier -- I plead that with AG levels of bullshit, you can't catch it all on the first go-round...<br /><br />1. The change in publisher revenue reported by the AAP, as well as the change in revenue of nearly all of the Big Five, from 2009 to 2015 is known. *If* author revenue is down, this seems like a pretty easy comparison to draw. Where is it?<br /><br />2. Setting aside many other issues, the basic metric being used is quite flawed. "Percentage of authors making above poverty line" has a numerator and a denominator. What if you were asked to compare the percentage of people who made more than the poverty line from taking high-definition video in 2015 vs 2009? Probably the number of HD video cameras on phones used by amateurs who make no money, or just a little money, has changed. Is the number of people working professionally taking HD video today higher or lower? Would this percentage tell us anything? Unlocking the means to write and reach an audience globally with no intermediary would almost certainly result in a lower percentage or median and this is a good thing.<br /><br />3. Why six years between surveys? What are they doing over there?Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-4660479845250460862015-09-15T11:30:56.061-07:002015-09-15T11:30:56.061-07:00Citing a swirl of factors, from online piracy to p...<i>Citing a swirl of factors, from online piracy to publisher consolidation to the rise of Amazon (and the shuttering of brick and mortar bookstores), Rasenberger said the takeaway from the survey is that authors should be receiving higher royalties from publishers. “Authors need to be cut in more equitably on the profits their publishers see, or we’ll stop seeing the quality of work the industry was built on.”</i><br /><br />This all makes sense, if you have the secret decoder ring. I have managed to obtain one:<br /><br /><i>Citing a swirl of factors, from online piracy to publisher consolidation to the rise of Amazon (and the shuttering of brick and mortar bookstores), Rasenberger said the takeaway from the survey is that <b>a handful of bestselling</b> authors should be receiving higher advances from publishers. “<b>Bestselling</b> authors need to be cut in more equitably on the profits their publishers see, or we’ll <b>set up our own publisher and cut you out of the loop entirely</b>.”</i><br /><br />Online piracy, publisher consolidation, and consumer spending moving to Amazon from brick and mortar bookstores aren't impoverishing any authors, but all of those factors are putting a crimp in the lifestyle of the rich and famous authors. <br /><br />Big name authors lose out when book buying moves on line because the greater selection and relative unimportance of product placement leads to more varied purchases.<br /><br />Publisher consolidation is leading to fewer bidders at the auction for the big names' titles, which means relatively lower bids for advances. <br /><br />Online piracy is more of a theoretical concern for the big names, but they are the ones who can afford to lose 10 readers to gain 1 buyer (figures totally hypothetical).<br /><br />Yes, the AG is pleading the poverty of the many to further enrich the wealthy few.William Ockhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795149116565627671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-18212590607310452722015-09-14T12:34:17.474-07:002015-09-14T12:34:17.474-07:00I saw this article a few days ago and immediately ...I saw this article a few days ago and immediately thought it was BS. What irked me was the definitive headline - as though a survey done within one group somehow made the results true. The sample was limited, small and yeah, obviously vested interests at work. But what bothers me is that other writers seem to think there is some reason to believe this kind of crap. Sigh.<br /><br />Good post, thanks.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-23274247644983983472015-09-14T11:09:20.624-07:002015-09-14T11:09:20.624-07:00if the AG and Authors United are willing to use a ...<i>if the AG and Authors United are willing to use a ploy like letters to the DOJ in one context, why not the other?</i><br /><br />We are in complete agreeance here. <br /><br />Of course we all know why the AG is discussing piracy, copyright, and Amazon in the same breath as legacy publishers paying more. It's a cross between sugar coating criticism and spreading the blame.<br /><br />The AG won't outright attack the Big 5, or force the issue. It's like lawyers who bury the one relevant clause in the 1000 worthless clauses, hoping it won't be noticed. Because if it is noticed, someone might get mad.<br /><br />But unlike shyster lawyers playing games, the AG isn't trying to trick the Big 5 into agreeing. The AG is trying to appease its dues-paying members by taking this firm, unwavering stand, backed with media and threats.<br /><br />Oh, wait, they aren't doing that. But they are making low-key noise. We should all be happy about that progress.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-4553971125323632462015-09-14T11:08:18.330-07:002015-09-14T11:08:18.330-07:00Reading the last few posts it occurs to me that le...Reading the last few posts it occurs to me that legacy publishers function mostly like curators, especially curators in the trendy sense of the word: "A new collection of fragrances, curated by Matthew McConaghey".<br /><br />In other words the publishers add value mainly by conferring their own seal of approval. In practice they also take a financial risk in printing paper copies, hiring salesmen, etc., but what if all they did was say, "This book is good, go buy it"?Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-24207625021070075322015-09-14T10:50:13.026-07:002015-09-14T10:50:13.026-07:00Joe, good points about what the AG really wants wi...Joe, good points about what the AG really wants with regard to copyright. Though whatever they want in that area, it's hard to see what it has to do with their proposed (and correct) solution to the author impoverishment they claim: legacy publishers need to share more of the wealth.<br /><br />And yes, if it turns out the tying argument is anywhere near as weak as the Amazon is a monopoly one, I'd personally be ashamed to use it as an indirect pressure point. My main point is just that if the AG and Authors United are willing to use a ploy like letters to the DOJ in one context, why not the other?<br /><br />A rhetorical question, I know...:)<br /><br />Nate, great post and I love that Gaiman video.<br /><br />David, interesting questions. I don't know how legacy publishers would price their services a la carte, but it's telling that their whole business model is built on a refusal to do so.Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-18676162144199882042015-09-14T10:26:45.756-07:002015-09-14T10:26:45.756-07:00Interesting comments on publishers and the practic...Interesting comments on publishers and the practice of 'tying'; what, exactly, is the value-add of a publisher without the tied services? Act as a printer/distributor only? Does enumeration of services constitue a pricable menu of options that can be selected or substituted from a different vendor?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16662798796306167495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-90790093815372387212015-09-14T10:16:21.164-07:002015-09-14T10:16:21.164-07:00" If Rasenberger has some evidence that pirac..." If Rasenberger has some evidence that piracy is harming authors"<br /><br />Actually, The Authors Guild has released data about piracy. <a href="http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/07/17/the-authors-guild-shows-that-piracy-is-not-a-major-issue-still-wants-to-break-the-internet/" rel="nofollow">It's not a problem</a>. Also, their data was bogus, LOL.Nathaniel Hoffelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13857088642054359340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-66107806444797645302015-09-14T09:58:33.935-07:002015-09-14T09:58:33.935-07:00cont.
As for the AG's continued fight to enfo...cont.<br /><br />As for the AG's continued fight to enforce copyright, my impression is that they aren't currently pestering Congress for stronger copyright laws, but rather for stronger ways to enforce copyright, like by bringing back a <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-authors-guild-nonsense.html" rel="nofollow"> bastardized version of SOPA.</a> The AG isn't demanding for stronger copyright laws, it's demanding that Congress enforce current copyright laws by destroying net neutrality.<br /><br />It is a dodge, and it is foolhardy. In fact, it flies in the face of the AG's own<a href="https://www.authorsguild.org/where-we-stand/" rel="nofollow"> vow to protect the First Amendment.</a> You can't have freedom of speech if you force ISP's or search engines to censor websites. Duh.<br /><br />As for using tying as a pressure point--yeah, I see it now that you repeated it. Makes sense. Use their tactics against them. Fight with propaganda that throws more heat than light on a situation. And you're right--it is about as valid as the "Amazon is a monopoly" argument.<br /><br />But my goal isn't to win at all costs. It's to enlighten. I don't consider this a war, but rather a revolution that authors need to learn about. Using the same guerrilla tactics as Authors United or the AG doesn't interest me as much as being right. :)JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-74186101210691698992015-09-14T09:53:15.654-07:002015-09-14T09:53:15.654-07:00Hey Joe, thanks for the thoughts. My knowledge abo...Hey Joe, thanks for the thoughts. My knowledge about tying outside a patent context is all Internet-based, and I freely acknowledge the argument might be legally weak (though logically appealing). But as I note in the article, the argument doesn't have to have a lot of legal weight to be used as a pressure point, and if Authors Guilded and United can use "Amazon is a monopoly" letters to the DOJ to pressure Amazon (as Lee Child acknowledges), there's no legitimate reason they can't use "legacy publishers are illegally tying" letters to the DOJ to pressure the Big Five cartel.Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-49327455858665557182015-09-14T09:46:34.069-07:002015-09-14T09:46:34.069-07:00The AG is wrasslin' with an unhealtful combina...The AG is wrasslin' with an unhealtful combination of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Pournelle#Iron_Law_of_Bureaucracy" rel="nofollow">Pournelle's Iron Law</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_bias" rel="nofollow">Status Quo Bias</a>. The AG exists to exist, in support of the Old Ways that help 1% of their membership.<br /><br />I agree with much of what you said here, Barry, but want to tease out two points where I'm not seeing completely eye to eye with you.<br /><br />The little I know about "tying" is in regard to goods and services that can be purchased. If you want the new XBox Jumbo on the day it comes out, Microsoft also forces you to buy a $500 Zune. Or in order to get that full house carpet cleaning service for $35, you must also pay $300 for duct cleaning.<br /><br />I'm just not sure access to paper distribution counts as a consumer good. There are some ideological similarities, but I don't know if illegal tying antitrust law covers them. A handful of collusive companies that have a lock on paper distribution can certainly use their market power to force <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2012/05/unconscionability.html" rel="nofollow">unconscionable contract terms</a> on authors, I'd assume we are considered employees rather than customers. <br /><br />That said, something does undoubtedly stink about an oligopoly who forces authors to not only accept one-sided contracts, but a handful of overpriced and often ineffective "services" in order to reach a readership, because reaching those readers without bending over for bad cover art and sloppy editing is otherwise impossible.<br /><br />It sucks. It seems similar to tying. But I don't know if tying covers it.<br /><br />cont.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.com