Don't be a Thief: Pirating and Downloading Illegal Copies of Books

Everyone, I’d like you to meet OVERDRIVE (the site & app). OVERDRIVE this is EVERYONE! You guys are going to get along beautifully!!

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m introducing you to OVERDRIVE. See recently… okay not recently, it’s been around for forever. The “IT” I’m referring to isn’t Steven King’s “IT” but rather the act of stealing someone’s work and in this case I’m talking about pirating and stealing BOOKS. There are other acts of stealing, like using graphics and pictures that don’t belong to you but using them to promote your business/books and even the misuse of videos, content, images, etc. But we've already discussed that in the " No, You Can't Use That Image" (Post #1 & Post #2) series and there is still a few other things to discuss, but that’s another topic for another day (trust me, I’m working on it). Back to the act of stealing books…..

Since we live in this world where technology is vast, the majority of things are global and we all have more access to… well basically everything, some may lose sight to what traditionally is known as “theft”. Many may think stealing is when you go into a physical store and take something without paying for it. That is a “physical” example of theft. However, pirating a book or getting a book file online from a sharable site (that is not official like the Lend program from Amazon) and you download it for FREE, it is exactly the same thing. It’s theft! The individual who created that item (i.e. the author who wrote the book) isn’t getting compensation for the time spent and everything else that went into creating that item.

On a similar note, would you ever think about going into Starbucks and telling the barista that you’d like a drink (whatever you like.… coffee, latte, Frappuccino something… pumpkin laced… etc.) but then tell them that you’d like it for free because they are just so expensive and really it should only cost you 99 Cents if not you know, be free! Would you do that? Would you go into Bath and Body Works and tell them that you want that scented candle and LOVE their products and how the candles makes the house smell wonderful and how it relaxes you…. And ask them to provide you with a free candle. I mean, come on, you did tell them that you LOVE their product! You also mentioned how you’re a huge fan, it’s just that those candle is so darn expensive. Would you?

No, you wouldn’t. Right? NO FREAKING WAY would you do that, so what in bloody hell would make you think that you could email/reach out to an author and ask for a free book because you just can’t afford the $3.99 cost of it.  Oh and I know there are LOTS of books that cost more than $3.99. I used that example as that is a ‘happy medium’ price point. Regardless of the book costing $0.99 Cents or $24.99… you want to read it… you PAY for it!

“But Viviana, the author makes A LOT of money and they are being greedy by selling their book for anything more than $0.99!”

LIE!! That’s a lie!!!! Are there authors who make a NICE (and by nice I mean a LOT) amount of money on their books? YES! Yes they are. HOWEVER, many, before they were making all the $$, they were also a struggling author! Additionally, many that you think are making a lot of $$, because you see them on FB traveling or they posted that they got a new coach bag, it may be more about their other job (many still have day jobs) and we can’t attribute their wealth to just being an author. Yet, if that is the case! GOOD FOR THEM! It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay for their book nor does it mean that EVERY author is making money.

The sad truth is that there are MANY phenomenal authors that make less in a year on their books than a high school student, working part-time at a fast food restaurant earns monthly. YEAH, you read that right. I’m not going to go into the cost of creating that book and the numbers. It should be enough that stealing is stealing and if you WANT something you SHOULD pay the amount of money it costs for YOU to get what you desire.

Just like you wouldn’t go into Starbucks and complain that the latte cost way too much or that the scented candle is too pricey at Bath and Body Works, don’t go to an author and ask for their work for free! Or steal it via download sharing sites.

“But Viviana, I need to budget my hard earn money for things like food and gas…. The book is only currently available in hardcover and its $24.99… I can’t justify paying that much for a book I may not even like.”

Uhm I get that…. Totally. I have to budget too! Here’s the thing… either SAVE MONEY and WAIT until you CAN afford the hardcover book or WAIT until either the book is available in paperback (usually 6 months to a year after the hardcover is published) or… this part may come as a shocker…. There is actually a place where you can get free books and get them legally for FREE..…its call the LIBRARY!!!

Libraries people!!! They have existed in our world for many years and they provide you with the opportunity to BORROW a book for FREE!!!!! You can’t wait until the book is available in a format that is more affordable to your budget… or you just plainly refuse to spend money on a book… the library will become your BFF!

“But Viviana, the book I want to read is only available as an eBook!”

Yeah… and? Seriously, I did mention how we live in this world with VAST technology abilities, right? This includes eBooks being available from the libraries. Audio books too while we’re chatting about different formats! And before you start with “But Viviana, I don’t own a device that plays audio books or a device in general to read an eBook…” speech , how were you planning on reading the eBook or listen to the audio that you illegally downloaded from the sharing file site OR that you just messaged the author for a free copy? That excuse doesn’t fly! The library has several different methods for you to “read” or “listen” to the book. If you have a laptop or computer, there you go! Download their apps and enjoy the immense volume of books! For audiobooks, there are several options as well including that many books are available on a device from the library. All you have to do is provide the batteries for it and the ear buds.

“But Viviana, the book I want to read isn’t available at the library.”

First of all, the library doesn’t only carry books from Shakespeare or Jane Austin (I mean they do have LOTS of classics which is AWESOME). The have some of the latest and greatest that are currently available! The libraries also utilize the vast technology that is available and this includes the option for those that use the library to request a book to be included in their catalog! This means you can either fill out the electronic form that is online or visit your local library and chat with the librarian! Amazing right? Instead of asking the author for the free book, ask the librarian to add it to their catalog!

The idea of asking your local librarian to add a book you wish to read (or listen to) to the library system isn’t new people. The same goes for requesting the different formats of a book (i.e. large print, eBook, Audio, etc.). And if you go back to the excuse of “I don’t have a device”, many will help you add the apps to your PHONE!! You know, that smart phone you have in your hand or pocket!

This brings me back to OVERDRIVE, HOOPLA, OneClickdigital, Freading etc. They are ALL apps that you can download for free and access books via the library. The only caveat is that you have to have a library card/account! Which is also FREE! Look at all the FREE stuff you can get!! Seriously! The library is this magical place that allows you the reader, to access to MILLIONS of books. MILLIONS! And at no cost to you. 

So don’t tell me that the $7.99 book is to expensive. Save the money to buy it. Wait til it goes on sale! Add it to your wish list for birthday and/or holidays. Seriously if you want it that badly, skip the latte and use that cash towards the book! Okay fine! So if you can’t skip the latte (I have a love of coffee… Charley Davidson and I would be BFF due to our love our coffee… and if she was, you know, a real person.), then get a library card! Don't be a thief!!

No, You Can't Use That Image: Don't Be A Thief!

In Emily Snow’s “Devoured” Sienna Jensen starts working for Lucas Wolfe, a rock star and in several instances she tries to ask him questions about himself in an effort to get to know him better. Every time his reply is the same “Google is your friend”. She was a bit baffled and taken aback. However, he was basically telling her that she could find the answers to her questions on the Internet via Google. She finally got the hint and looked him up. I LOVE that line and have used it SEVERAL times! I mean, it’s the truth! You can basically find out information for just about anything.

This also means searching for images! However, Google IS NOT a stock image site. This isn’t the place for you to grab images for your posts, graphic teasers, book covers, or ads etc. You can utilize Google to FIND the images from their original sources. You can use Google to compare prices for stock images as well. This is also a great time to compare the licenses between the stock sites. However, you DO NOT use the image by copy/pasting or downloading it FROM Google or from the site you found it from.

Images have copyrights, and if you use an image without the proper permission you are in violation of that copyright. Basically you’re stealing! NO, it’s not ‘borrowing’, it’s not ‘inspired by’, and it’s not anything other than STEALING. There is no way around it.

So doing a search for let’s say “Sexy guy with long hair”, will get you the following on Google:

a.) careful, sometimes, these searches can be “interesting” and NSFW
b.) will give you A LOT of eye candy
c.) yield many options that are NOT stock images NOTE – this could be good because it will help you figure out what look you may be looking for if you already didn’t know (i.e. blonde vs. red head, long hair vs. short, jeans vs. slacks, tats vs. none, etc.)


Sites you’ll also see plenty on a Google search that are NOT stock sites:

• Pinterest
• YouTube
• DeviantArt
• Tumblr
• Flickr 
• Photobucket 

Sites you will see plenty of that ARE Stock sites:

• Stutterstock.com
• Dreamstime.com
• 123rf.com
• GraphicStock.com 

These are just a few. Promise we'll go over the different sites and what the perks are for each at a later date!

Now, I’ve mentioned Google not being a Stock site. Another place where people tend to ‘get’ images where they shouldn’t is PINTEREST. In fact, there have been many issues with copyright infringement because people can “upload” images to this site without crediting the owners or getting permission from the owners and then it gets “repinned” meaning shared and the original source and owner may never be credited. I know a photographer friend of mine, Jenn LeBlanc had one of her images stolen and uploaded onto Pinterest. The image was one that was inside of one of her books! A person took a screenshot of the image and then uploaded it and posted it on Pinterest, which was shared many times. All this WITHOUT Jenn’s permission!  Jenn is not only the photographer of the image (thus owns the copyrights) but also the AUTHOR of the book (own copyrights there too) where the image was in. To add insult to injury, this same image that was screenshot and uploaded onto Pinterest was then used for a meme for a DIFFERENT author! Can we say WTF?

Here is some AWESOME information about copyright that you should read!

“Copyright” describes the rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works.

Copyright is an automatic right and does not require the author to file special paperwork, as is the case for trademark and patent. Registration is required to enforce the rights, but as a matter of right, an author is not required to register anything to get the right to use the “circle c,” showing the work is copyrighted.*

Okay… let’s take a second here and did you read/notice that it says it’s “automatic right” and doesn’t require the author/creator/designer to file special paperwork. HOWEVER, registration is required to enforce the right. So for those who say or think that because an image or design or artwork doesn’t have the © or watermarks, it doesn’t work that way.

The copyright owner has the right to do four things (called exclusive rights):

Reproduce the copyrighted work;
Display the copyrighted work publicly;
Prepare derivative works based on the copyrighted work; and
Distribute copies of the copyrighted work to the public by sale, rental or lending, and/or to display the image.
Source: 17 USC Section 106.

Understanding Photographic Copyright **

Things to remember about copyright:

• Copyright is a property right.
• Just because you buy a print does not mean you have purchased the copyright.
• Professional photographers are the smallest of small copyright holders.
• Under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976, photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation.
• Photographers have the exclusive right to reproduce their photographs (right to control the making of copies). Copyright
• Unless you have permission from the photographer, you can’t copy, distribute (no scanning and sending them to others), publicly display (no putting them online), or create derivative works from photographs.
• A photographer can easily create over 20,000 separate pieces of intellectual property annually.
• Professional photographers are dependent on their ability to control the reproduction of the photographs they create.
• It affects their income and the livelihood of their families.
• Even small levels of infringement—copying a photo without permission—can have a devastating impact on a photographer’s ability to make a living.
• Copyright infringements—reproducing photos without permission—can result in civil and criminal penalties.

Check out the links provided below for additional information about copyright.
Resources:
*Social Media Examiner
**Professional Photographers of America, Inc.


Check out the link provided as it even gives you information about how to get legal copies of professional photographs!

By now I hope it’s been established that though “Google is your friend” (truly love that line) it’s not your stock image site. Make sure you take the time to LEARN about copyright for not only content but also images (artwork and photography). Learn about the differences in the licenses for the stock images (i.e. private use vs. commercial use) as well. Remember that Authors (and Bloggers, PR companies, Assistants, etc.) are just as responsible as the graphic designers they hire to do work for them when copyright infringements occur. Personally, I think they are actually more responsible because they are the ones doing the hiring (meaning they should have done the necessary research i.e. reputable individual/company) and in the end and long run, it’s their name that will forever be associated with stealing artwork or images from the artist. They, the individual doing the hiring (i.e. Author, Blogger, PR Company, etc.) need to hire reputable graphic designers vs. those that claim to be “cheap but quality” or “no need to pay a lot for…” or “inexpensive”! Allow me to lay it out for those who may still not understand the way and give you a reality check - you get what you paid for! In this case, it could mean getting sued for copyright infringement which is the worst case scenario or being asked by the owner of the image to remove the book (for the author) from all the vendors and not only does the author lose potential sales, but they lost the money they paid for that cover originally, time spent for the original cover and now having to get a new one (and this also means more money spent) and now they are forever known as the author who used a stolen image for their book cover. Shame really.  The excuse, and it truly is an excuse, of “Oh, I didn’t know!” or “But I hired a company to do all the PR which included the graphic design work!” or “How was I supposed to know it was stolen, they didn’t put a watermark on it!” is a bunch of bull. It needs to stop. Truly! Authors get upset when their books get pirated. You get upset when your things get stolen. How and why would this be any different? It isn’t.

Now… time for Q&A… if you have any questions…. Leave them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them and if I don’t have the answer… I’ll help direct you to where you can find one. Check out the two links I included above as resources because they do provide A LOT of information as well. Please know that I am NOT a lawyer. I am NOT an expert in copyright law, however, I do know enough about the subject because I work in the industry and work as a graphic designer. I’d also LOVE to hear your thoughts on the topic!