Saturday, June 09, 2018

Sufferin' Ink Slingers

"It's The Author Who Suffers" reports Porter Anderson on Mary Rasenberger's remarks at Book Expo about copyright issues and authors being last and least to be paid.

https://publishingperspectives.com/2018/05/bookexpo-copyright-authors-publishers-association-authors-guild/

Book Expo was about book authors, but other authors, such as songwriters are also suffering.

Part of the problems are driven by technology, and ever increasing exceptions for "fair use" and "modernization" of copyright and music, and "access", and more, driven by legislators who are funded allegedly by technology.

Such as the sometime Shyllz trombonist, who appears to be no friend to ink slingers and singers, as discussed by the trichordist advocates for creators.

https://thetrichordist.com/2018/06/07/joke-of-the-week-sen-ronwyden-claims-hes-pro-artist/

By contrast,  Senator John Cornyn opines, "I do believe that the intellectual property that you create is just that. It's property, and you ought to be protected..."

Terrence Hart appears to wonder if Congress bends over so far to please the populists (who would rather not pay the actual creators anything) that is amounts to unconstitutional "taking" from some to give to others.

https://artistrightswatch.com/2018/05/30/terrencehart-does-the-access-to-recordings-act-violate-the-constitutions-takings-clause/

The Copyright Alliance supports the MMA, but Chris Castle of Music Tech Policy  has some questions about the business plan, and who will get stuck with the massive bill.

https://musictechpolicy.com/2018/06/06/why-wont-anyone-budget-the-mmas-mechanical-licensing-collective/

Do you remember how a certain tech titan described "snippets" of a permissionlessly scanned book to a judge as being approximately three lines of text? With this much available of the only 9 pages of required reading by this author for a University course, it's not astonishing that author incomes are down. One would have to be insane (or insanely honest) to pay $31.72 to read 15 pages when 12 are free, and only 3 are redacted..

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CLyi7nmzr28C&oi=fnd&pg=PA281&ots=-br_SgGI0M&sig=FcMmXAsKEJtoBaepS2UjRiIXf2I#v=onepage&q&f=false

Perhaps the lack of reviews is telling. Perhaps only those who purchase books write reviews.

On the brighter side....

The Copyright Alliance is offering Gold Membership subscriptions to creators of all stripes who wish to either fund more copyright activity, or to learn more about their rights. It's $30 per year, but for Authors Guild members, there is a $10 discount.  There's a discount for members of other industry groups, too.

https://copyrightalliance.org/register/gold-subscription/

The Authors Guild is opening regional chapters. For members. After their recent strong advocacy for authors under trademark attack, and now, their assistance with authors who have a bone to pick with Amazon, it might be even more worth joining the Authors Guild.

To find out if there is to be a regional chapter in your area:
https://www.authorsguild.org/member-services/regional-authors-guild-chapters/

Finally, and only for graduates, Bill Gates is giving away a book. Factfulness by Hans Rosling.

https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/My-gift-to-college-graduates?

The ebook costs $14.99 if purchased, and it looks pretty interesting.
https://books.google.com/books?id=j-4yDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=factfulness+hans+rosling&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiclpj4k8jbAhXiIjQIHSqyBt8Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=factfulness%20hans%20rosling&f=false

All the best,

Rowena Cherry

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