19 July 2009

Andrew Barr comes out swinging against the publishing industry

| johnboy
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To make my own biases clear, I’ve long been of the view that the Australian publishing industry is made up of a bunch of smug, underperforming, unimaginative bastards who conspire to make my beloved books more expensive.

I don’t know if they’d be first against the wall, waiting for a bullet, come the revolution. But if I had my way they wouldn’t have time to finish their memoirs.

But the publishing industry and the small number of writers who are their favourites are certainly good at getting in front of public megaphones. In the wake of the Productivity Commission calling for an end to restrictions on the parallel importation of books the self serving cries for the continuation of their rape of literacy, and the credence they’ve been given in some media, have been startling.

So it’s good to see the ACT’s Minister for Education, Andrew Barr really taking a red hot shot at the industry in return this morning.

The whole statement is well worth a read, but here are the highlights for mine:

    If bankrolling a publishing oligopoly in Australia prevents kids from reading cheaper books, then Australia has failed its children. Why allow our kids to play cheap video games from the US without any publishing restrictions, while making it more expensive for them to buy books?

    Like with CDs, clothing, footwear, cars, food and education, removing trade restrictions has made these items cheaper and more accessible for all Australians. It has also made Australia more prosperous.

    The sorts of arguments raised by those in favour of the current restrictions on books are identical to arguments made in favour of restrictions on parallel importing of music CDs.

    In spite of the dire warnings of those against reforms in the music industry a decade ago, we can still buy lots of quality Australian music. According to ARIA, around a quarter of the top-selling singles and albums for 2008 were local works. Total royalties paid to artists have increased. The predictions of an end to the Australian music industry proved baseless.

    In fact the arguments in favour of protecting Australia’s publishers are not so different from the arguments advanced in support of the White Australia policy last century. We need to protect our industry/ culture/ values/ institutions from foreign contamination. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

    Australia welcomed migrants and we’re all the better for it. We welcome foreign students and we’re all the better for it. We welcome foreign cars and we’re all the better for it. We welcome cheaper music and we’re all the better for it.

    Why can’t we have cheaper books?

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YapYapYap said :

ps So which author is the Danish imposter.

Peter Hoeg.

I still haven’t seen anyone offer an explanation as to why local/Australian literature will suddenly disappear with the changes to PIR.

The only thing that YapYapYap has vaguely pointed to (in between a lot of bluster and some appalling confusion and misrepresentation of such basic concepts as ‘copyright’) is (to paraphrase) ‘if books get cheaper, authors royalties will reduce accordingly’ (well duh!). You’d be hard pressed to find *anyone* to argue that book prices in Australia aren’t grossly overpriced – that’s why there’s been a massive shift in the market to people purchasing cheap online works (I can buy a novel shipped from the UK cheaper than I can find it in any store in Australia): the Australian book market is horrifically distorted because of this protectionist guff. According to this sort of argument, all books should be priced as highly as possible because that would mean that authors would get more money – it’s a short-sighted argument that overlooks the fact that, if book prices drop, then people will buy more books.

The remainders argument is a complete furphy. Remainders occur when the sales expectations of a book are not met and the publisher is forced to dump stock because a title has failed to meet sales expectations. Remainders cost publishers money and are a sign that a book has failed, they won’t be reducing prices on books that would be otherwise successful.

And here’s a better discussion than I would ever come up with from a booksellers point of view:
http://www.scribepublications.com.au/blog

The argument is really about whether people like Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings would have ever been published in the first place, or Andy Griffiths for that matter. It’s really hard to get a first publishing contract, and the industry is understandably skeptical that the PC has fully considered that. It’s not like applying for an economists position at the PC.

Can you imagine how an americanised Andy Griffths book would read, if it did get past american sensibilities enough to even get published?

… all-write … *boom boom*

If our authors are the equivalent of the buggy whip or sword industries there is little merit in trying to protect them. If they are as good as you think they don’t need protection, they need opportunity.

People like Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings aren’t going anywhere. That is not because they are protected, but because there is a market for what they write.

It will be alright.

Granny said :

Dammit, YapYapYap! You’ve gone and been nice to me. That spoils everything!

Well, I don’t really want a fight either. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to our industry. I think there is room for improvement here. Surely it can’t be hard for authors and consumers to win? Everyone is losing out already in many ways.

Granny I more or less agree (in a general sense), but the Productivity Commission report recommendations, and its overall position on this isuue, and most everthing else, is to expose anything and everything to market forces. And hell, doesn’t that work a treat.

Ari said :

YapYapYap said :

a three minute song isn’t Tree of Man, after all.

Dear God, the opponents of change want to foist more bl**dy Patrick White on us? Didn’t we suffer enough of his pretentious cr*p at high school and uni? In the name of studying a “distinctive Australian voice”.

Personally, I mostly gave up on local bookshops a couple of years ago.

I’ve found most of the books I wanted online, far, far cheaper. I still buy plenty, though.

If the local bookshops are able to regain their competitive abilities through this change there’s a chance I might start spending some quality browsing time in them again.

I might even fortuitously come across some “distinctive Australian voices”.

But, meh, I think it’s too late for them now. Protectionism has strangled them past the point of recovery.

Ari, I didn’t actually say Tree of Man is a must, just that you couldn’t pump it out of your basement via youtube, in the same way you could a three minute ditty.

I agree book prices are something worthy of attention, but losing our stories isn’t the same thing as not buying ‘our’ thongs – I don’t care where my consumer crap comes from

You wouldn’t have heard of any of them otherwise, let alone had the pleasure to read their work. The same arguement would see the ABC wiped-out. Cant’ wait for the Productivity Commission’s report on “The need to expose all elements of Australian Culture, in particular the ABC, museums, libraries, orchestras, opera, ballet, and face painting in the park to the whim of the the Market Gods”

ps So which author is the Danish imposter.

YapYapYap said :

a three minute song isn’t Tree of Man, after all.

Dear God, the opponents of change want to foist more bl**dy Patrick White on us? Didn’t we suffer enough of his pretentious cr*p at high school and uni? In the name of studying a “distinctive Australian voice”.

Personally, I mostly gave up on local bookshops a couple of years ago.

I’ve found most of the books I wanted online, far, far cheaper. I still buy plenty, though.

If the local bookshops are able to regain their competitive abilities through this change there’s a chance I might start spending some quality browsing time in them again.

I might even fortuitously come across some “distinctive Australian voices”.

But, meh, I think it’s too late for them now. Protectionism has strangled them past the point of recovery.

Dammit, YapYapYap! You’ve gone and been nice to me. That spoils everything!

Well, I don’t really want a fight either. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to our industry. I think there is room for improvement here. Surely it can’t be hard for authors and consumers to win? Everyone is losing out already in many ways.

YapYapYap said :

So, let’s start with (some already topped by JB) crap authors …

… that are only being thrown a handful of crumbs from the outrageous subsidies that ordinary Australians are forced to pay.

Granny said :

YapYapYap, I mostly buy children’s books, of which many of them are Australian.

If you think I will buy them just because they’re Australian, you are wrong.

If you think I’ll buy any less of them when my money stops flooding overseas, you are also wrong.

Heck, I might even buy more.

I do actually want more, but I can’t afford to purchase them for my kids, because I’m too busy paying foreign people other than the author.

And I sure resent having to spend a fortune on postage to get things from Amazon, and still end up cheaper.

I don’t want to spend my money on postage. I want to spend it on books.

Granny I understand your point on this, its valid enough, but my point is too. I don’t want to see books at inflated prices, but neither do I want to see books dumbed-down in the way the cinema, television, music, food, and everything else has been. I’m not spoiling for a fight – on this issue 🙂 – I think its important that we don’t lose our ‘voice’ at the alter that is the market.

johnboy said :

Don’t care Yap Yap Yap.

Aside from Tim Winton the local writers can all top themselves and I wouldn’t care because most of them are crap.

So, let’s start with (some already topped by JB) crap authors:

Patrick White, Peter Carey, AD Hope, Kenneth Slessor, Randolph Stowe, Dorothy Hewett, John Marsden, Thomas Kenneally, David Williamson, Morris Gleitzman, John Pilger, Geraldine Brooks, Vincent Buckley, David Malouf, Helen Garner, Dorothy Porter, Les Murray, Kevin Hart, Peter Cowan, Shirley Hazzard, John Tranter, Kate Grenville, Robert Adamson, Frank Moorhouse, Andrew Taylor, Brenda Walker, Thom Shapcott, Judith Wright, G Elizabeth Jolley, Kim Scott, Thea Astley, Bruce Dawe, Nick Cave, Peter Hoeg, Paul Jennings, John Blight, Hal Porter, Bruce Beaver, Peter Porter, John Kinsella, G Elizabeth Jolley, Jack Davis, Gwen Harwood, Gail Jones, …and of course Ern Malley

Points for the person who identifies the Danish imposter on this list. Contact the ‘bookburner’ for details of your prize

YapYapYap, I mostly buy children’s books, of which many of them are Australian.

If you think I will buy them just because they’re Australian, you are wrong.

If you think I’ll buy any less of them when my money stops flooding overseas, you are also wrong.

Heck, I might even buy more.

I do actually want more, but I can’t afford to purchase them for my kids, because I’m too busy paying foreign people other than the author.

And I sure resent having to spend a fortune on postage to get things from Amazon, and still end up cheaper.

I don’t want to spend my money on postage. I want to spend it on books.

johnboy, you’ve got cheaper access to ‘global writing’ as things stand; you can import at substantial discounts. What concerns me is the impact on local writers, whatever you think of them. That aside, “don’t care” isn’t a real arguement, nor is the Tim Winton line.

Don’t care Yap Yap Yap.

Aside from Tim Winton the local writers can all top themselves and I wouldn’t care because most of them are crap.

Give me cheaper access to global writing and the Australian authors who can stand up in that company I will applaud.

There are better ways to support local writing than pricing literacy out of the market.

Almost all of them in fact.

Granny, I have no problem with cheaper books (or anything else for that matter), however I don’t share your apparently unfetted faith in the behaviour of markets, and I am concerned that Australian book could well end up no better than Australian tevevision.

The Commission’s report is lazy. You might disagree, and you might also attempt to justify this nonsense:

“There is also a concern that any Australian-authored works for which overseas rights have been
sold could face competition from imported copies could affect their prospects for local publication. However, the Commission notes that in the order of 70 per cent of Australian-authored trade works do not have export editions (appendix E). For those with export editions, any threat of reimportation could be ameliorated to some extent, depending on the competitive
response of Australian authors and publishers……”

The interests of the other 30% aren’t dealt with here, or anywhere else in this discussion, and those interests are simply dismissed, it would seem, because 70% sounds like ‘enough’ as arguements go.

As to “the competitive response of Australian authors”; what sort of robot thinks authors focus their efforts on “competitive responses” to market uncertainties?

This stuff is rubbish, whatever the merits of removing PIRs, and the Commission should either pulp its product or expose its own publications to some ‘proper’ competition.

What’s lazy is anybody continuing to support a system where Australians can afford to buy less books for ourselves and our children because we are subsidising overseas interests with exorbitant book prices and if we changed anything the sky might fall and the world might end and it could be terrible!

Terrible, I tell you!

We could all be rooned!! We might never see another Australian book title again! Ever!!

So whatever you do don’t stop subsidising all those foreign fat cats with Australian hard earned! It’s too freaking dangerous!

that would be ‘brush-offs’

The report also brushes- ff most concerns with through-aways like: industry might adjust, opportunities might emerge. It’s lazy work and does no more that confirm the Commission’s long held, and ery conservative economic views.

Yes, YapYapYap, as with any business if you manage change and risk badly your business will suffer. You have yet to provide any actual evidence of where this has happened in a similar circumstance where protection was removed. But keep panicking by all means.

A Key Point that you may have missed.

PIRs are a poor means of promoting culturally significant Australian works.
– They do not differentiate between books of high and low cultural value.
The bulk of the assistance leaks offshore, and some flows to the printing industry.

Restrictions on the Parallel Importation of Books Research Report Overview – including key points

Unless you believe that Australian consumers should keep lining the pockets of fat overseas interests because reform is all too big and scary and nasty … diddums!

While books are primarily sources of information,
interest and entertainment, they can also be tools of learning or earning, repositories
of history or markers of cultural identity. Reading also improves literacy, which is
fundamental to individual wellbeing and to the smooth functioning of society and
the economy.

Let us never lose sight of this.

More FUD from the Commission:

Due to their protection of higher prices, the PIRs assist authors by increasing the
value of their copyright. As they are inextricably linked, authors will also be
affected by any impacts on publishers (as set out above).

To the extent that removal of PIRs resulted in lower prices that were not sufficiently
offset by greater sales, authors would face reductions in their income. Lower RRPs
in the domestic market would translate into lower unit royalty payments. Authors
would also receive lower ‘export royalties’ on any copies of their books that were
imported into Australia from overseas. Further, given that copies of books sold as
remainders generally return no specific royalties for Australian authors (box 5.4), any
importation of remainders that displaced rather than supplemented existing sales
would reduce the total income earned from the books concerned.

Moreover, some new or undiscovered authors could find it more difficult to gain
attention in an open market, particularly if there were a contraction in Australian
publishing.

Another aspect of the loss of authorial control relates to the editorial changes that
overseas publishers may make to Australian works, such as differences in language
or settings.

Jim Jones said :

What has territorial protection got to do with copyright or ‘shelf-life’?

‘Publishing’ rights would have been a better description. What had been proposed was that publication rights be protected for 12 months (the shelf-life reference)

Granny said :

The New Zealand industry seemed to be intelligent enough to manage it. Once again, you have no evidence to support your position, only FUD. Pfft!

While the Commission does cite NZ publishing and Australian CDs as examples of a markets where removal of PIRs did not impact on those industries, the Commission did note “As discussed in appendix C, differences between these industries and the Australian books industry, and other factors affecting the performance of these sectors post reform, mean that caution is required in seeking to draw definitive lessons from these case studies.”

FUD

What has territorial protection got to do with copyright or ‘shelf-life’?

Jim Jones said :

I’m mystified as to what “short copyright shelf-life” means. Can someone explain this?

Jim,

It was the reform option proposed in the Commission’s discussion draft; that a 12 month ‘territorial protection’ (ie exclusive rights for 12 months) be retained from the current policy. In the end the commission even scrapped that in its final report.

Most of the big print jobs are done offshore, Singapore used to do a lot of it, now probably China has got some of that action, too. Basically, the book is “published” in Australia, but the actual factory work of printing is done somewhere cheaper.

Peterh – some of the extra cost differentials involved in Australia are GST and high printing costs per unit because of small print runs (because Australia is a small market).

It’s all fine and well to complain about the evil publishers and their greed, but has anyone arguing this line actually had any experience of publishing, or any information about the profitability of publishing in Australia? There’s a lot of assumptions being made that ‘publishers are evil’ for the sole reason that they’re a very convenient scapegoat.

Madame Workalot11:11 am 21 Jul 09

Jim Jones said :

Madame Workalot, with respect, variances in international copyright law has little or nothing to do with the royalties that authors receive for the sale of their work. Even if some country with differing copyright laws produces works that are still in copyright in Australia, Australian copyright standards obviously still apply in Australia (here it should also be noted that there are agreed international standards of copyright law – Europe and America have been converging on copyright standards over the past decade or so – the idea that there is some mythical country somewhere where copyright ‘doesn’t exist’ is a complete furphy). Authors sign contracts with publishers stipulating the rate of royalties on sales, PIR restrictions cannot alter this in any way, as international production is still tied to contractual obligations.

I’m mystified as to what “short copyright shelf-life” means. Can someone explain this?

I’m hearing a lot of confused panicky murmuring as to why the proposed PIR changes will be bad for local writers, but there haven’t been any coherent arguments. “Try sending your manuscript to New York or London or Shanghai in an attempt to get it published” – WTF? PIR somehow magically means that the local industry will disappear? It didn’t in New Zealand (as stated earlier – the industry saw an upsurge in business) and I haven’t heard a single explanation as to why this will occur.

Agreed Jim, although I would note that in certain countries, particularly in Asia, while copyright laws may exist they are not enforced. Hence perhaps the misperception of copyright free countries.

Either way, I don’t think copyright is the real issue here.

For the record, I would love to walk into a bookstore and only have to pay about $20 for a new-release book. Bring on the competition, I say!

I must be missing something. If a book i buy states that it is printed with permission in australia, hasn’t the book been printed here, using local materials?

Why is it that the books we buy, when comparing the exchange rate between the USD and the AUD so far out of whack? where is the cost increasing in australia? easy answer. Greed. The publishers in australia are taking a lot more for the book than their o/s counterparts are, the US is about demand – if a good book sells well and is endorsed by a celeb, they sell millions of the book and make millions in sales. Why is australia any different?

in times past, a book would cost me $20.00 – I would allow myself one a week, and would read it voraciously in a week. Now, I find that i am reading the same book a couple of times, as i am now buying them infrequently. This is due to the slug in cost for a book. one of the series I am reading released a new book last month, my father has bought it and i will get to read it. I cannot afford to pay the $60.00 for the book myself, there are a lot more things I can buy with that money that are far more pressing to me and the family. Books are becoming a luxury.

The idea Jim, as I understand it, is that the local publishing industry requires monopoly profits on books in order to finance unprofitable local publishing. I would suggest that if local publishing was so unprofitable they wouldn’t be doing it now, and furthmore if such support is needed it should be done by direct grants, not by backdoor subsidies.

Madame Workalot, with respect, variances in international copyright law has little or nothing to do with the royalties that authors receive for the sale of their work. Even if some country with differing copyright laws produces works that are still in copyright in Australia, Australian copyright standards obviously still apply in Australia (here it should also be noted that there are agreed international standards of copyright law – Europe and America have been converging on copyright standards over the past decade or so – the idea that there is some mythical country somewhere where copyright ‘doesn’t exist’ is a complete furphy). Authors sign contracts with publishers stipulating the rate of royalties on sales, PIR restrictions cannot alter this in any way, as international production is still tied to contractual obligations.

I’m mystified as to what “short copyright shelf-life” means. Can someone explain this?

I’m hearing a lot of confused panicky murmuring as to why the proposed PIR changes will be bad for local writers, but there haven’t been any coherent arguments. “Try sending your manuscript to New York or London or Shanghai in an attempt to get it published” – WTF? PIR somehow magically means that the local industry will disappear? It didn’t in New Zealand (as stated earlier – the industry saw an upsurge in business) and I haven’t heard a single explanation as to why this will occur.

Madame Workalot8:20 am 21 Jul 09

Jim Jones said :

Astrojax – it’s not as if author’s contracts with publishers don’t apply outside Australian territories. Precisely how does the lifting of PIR magically make authors receive no royalties if their books are produced outside of Australia?

And are you really making the argument that people desperately want to read locally written works, and are presumably willing to pay for this desire, but that the market will somehow deny this desire and only offer foreign titles? How does this work?

If books are produced outside Australia, it is likely the copyright laws of that country will then apply to the product. Australia has one of the most owner-friendly copyright systems in the world. However, given the contracts authors enter into with publishers, the publishers are going to be losing substantially more than creators.

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

The New Zealand industry seemed to be intelligent enough to manage it. Once again, you have no evidence to support your position, only FUD. Pfft!

If this is really about giving kids access to books Barr can always take a proposal to Cabinet, or perhaps even get his Cabinet colleagues to not shut any more libraries.

It seems the real issue here is the ability of local publishers to survive the proposed changes, and the impact that will have on local writers. The short copyright shelf-life will pretty much end local publishing, at least where it comes to serious work. Try sending your manuscript to New York or London or Shanghai in an attempt to get it published. The comparison to the music industry might be some sort of guide, but we have seen new local music that charted very well beeing turned-out of bedrooms and posted on youtube, and that is much less likely to happen with local literature; a three minute song isn’t Tree of Man, after all.

Anna Key said :

I note they link to a facebook page that is supposed to continue this debate. I joined up for this reason but don’t bother. It’s just a bunch of sad wanks going “Hi, I’m Emmy from Nebraska and I have an ebook”, “Hey Duuuude, I am surferman and Ebooks rule!” etc Don’t waste your time thinking you will get anything but heartburn from this.

I’m concerned you signed up for a facebook page expecting intelligent debate and discussion (soooo totally not like Riot Act (LOL)).

But seems Australia is still quite a way behind the times, although here is a fairly recent article.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/05/bebook_ebook_reader_now_available_in_australia/

Fair enough on the faceBook comment (winks, hugs and 😀 these symbol things back atya gal pal, LOL!!!!)
But isn’t your “recent article” just an add for Bebooks? The Bebook is a rebrand of the Chinese produced Hanlin V3. The article’s comments indicate it can download most Ebook formats- I hope (rather than believe) this is true as this is one of the major stumbling blocks at the moment and I would question the authenticity of some posters on this site. If you come across more information I would be interested. I note the author of your article was confused that there were no instructions on how to download the latest Stephen King novel (I would suggest bookstore bargain tables, Foxtel movie channels etc).

0-: (-: (-; LOL ROFL LMFAO

Astro, I love Australian stuff. That isn’t going to change. There is simply no evidence to indicate that authors are likely to be any worse off. What evidence do you have to substantiate these assertions? Unless you can demonstrate otherwise to me I can only assume that this is just a very natural fear of change. If other countries and industries can negotiate this successfully, the Australian industry would have to be exceedingly incompetent to stuff it up.

Astrojax – it’s not as if author’s contracts with publishers don’t apply outside Australian territories. Precisely how does the lifting of PIR magically make authors receive no royalties if their books are produced outside of Australia?

And are you really making the argument that people desperately want to read locally written works, and are presumably willing to pay for this desire, but that the market will somehow deny this desire and only offer foreign titles? How does this work?

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

all good for the reader, but what about the livelihood of the writer

F.ck ’em. Write decent stuff we want to read at a price we want to pay, or starve – the same as every single other industry in the world. We don’t owe anybody a living. “Think of the poor Aussie writers” is a logical absurdity if you take it to its conclusion:

“If we let in imports, nobody will buy Australian literature any more.”
“Really? Why? We buy it now.”
“Well, the American stuff might be better value.”
“So you’re saying we should make do with sh.tty overpriced writing to keep sh.tty overpriced writers in a job?”
“Sh.tty overpriced Australian writers, yes.”

‘we’ do write stuff you wanna read, but now the copyright associated with where the books we’ll buy, will move off shore and severely limit the returns to the writer for selling the same volume of books, but that won’t affect australian readers until we realise that we’re all now reading books about texas and noo yoik not the kimberleys and sydney…

Yes, we’re both agree that the PIR should be abolished. My argument is that it will little effect to book prices and that it’s little more than a side issue anyway.

If you’re going to claim support from hard data you’ll need to link to it. From where I sit your recollections about CD prices don’t carry any more weight than mine.

Anyway, we’re both on the same side here I believe – abolish the PIR.

The stats from NZ (and Australia’s experience with CD trade restrictions) says otherwise caf.

It doesn’t actually matter whether they’re locally produced or not (most of mine are because most of mine are Australian artists) – the fact that the option to import CDs is there works to peg the price of the locally produced items.

caf – from memory, popular (‘top ten’ and ‘classic’) albums had the same relative price structure compared to the ‘other’ stuff.

It’s the volume in which they were produced that makes them cheaper, not importation. Check the back of the CDs (or liner notes) about production, they’re always locally produced. Imported CDs are actually more expensive.

Jim: Popular albums seem to be typically about the $20-$25 mark now, when they were all about $30 in the mid nineties. Given the moderate amount of inflation since then, that’s a very decent fall in the real price.

Deadmandrinking: All the sceptics I know have become converts after trying one. It’s pretty hard to go past the ability to bring hundreds of books with you in 200 grams of plastic, particularly travelling.

New Zealand lifted the restrictions on parallel importations for books and the world didn’t end – the industry has actually shown a moderate upswing since then.

It’s pretty typical that the industry is crying foul and prophesying doom though – their response to the PIR debate has been analogous to the music industry response to the lifting of parallel importing restrictions. And what happened when parallel importation restrictions on CDs were lifted? Not a damn thing. If the wholesale prices of CDs dropped, then it was simply added to the profit margin.

As others have been pointing out, the bigger issues that the industry is going to have to deal with is: 1) the fact that more and more people are simply sidestepping the local market in order to purchase cheap books online (http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/ is by far the cheapest supplier I’ve seen, and they don’t charge for delivery – I can buy anything from a huge, full-colour graphic novel to a cheap trade paperback and know that it will be significantly cheaper than any shop I could find it in), and the rise of ebooks (no, they’re not commercially mainstream yet, but the quality of readers has been rising and it’s only a matter of time before they are popularised and take on an iPod type status; Apple is due to release a reader soon I believe).

The responses from authors to the PIR issue has been typically misguided and emotive. The most hilarious thing to see are people arguing that the PIR will see ‘the death of book culture in Australia’ – as if people buying cheaper books will somehow mean the death of book culture (presumably more people going to the National Gallery will also mean the death of art). Local literature already has more than enough grants and other money thrown at it without also demanding that the market be declared some sort of protected haven. If your work is good enough, then you will succeed in the market; the real issue that many ‘local’ writers have to face is that they’re nothing more than annoying, government-sponsored dilettantes who would be better left to the dustbin of history.

Deadmandrinking8:16 am 20 Jul 09

Anna Key – I’ve been interested in these E-books, but I don’t know if they’ll really be able to rid the feel of holding a book in your hands. I know I’ll try to put a bookmark in it at least once.

I note they link to a facebook page that is supposed to continue this debate. I joined up for this reason but don’t bother. It’s just a bunch of sad wanks going “Hi, I’m Emmy from Nebraska and I have an ebook”, “Hey Duuuude, I am surferman and Ebooks rule!” etc Don’t waste your time thinking you will get anything but heartburn from this.

I’m concerned you signed up for a facebook page expecting intelligent debate and discussion (soooo totally not like Riot Act (LOL)).

But seems Australia is still quite a way behind the times, although here is a fairly recent article.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/05/bebook_ebook_reader_now_available_in_australia/

I’m all for cheaper books to support my shameful habbit that has crowded out all inside bookshelves, half my wardrobe and much of the shed.

Rosebud and interested others, I have been following the debates around ebooks in Australia to make sure that when (no if) I buy one will be best value for the Australian market.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35689
This thread (specific to buying an Ebook for Australians) in post#2 does a side by side comparison of all models as well as info on where to buy, how much and what would suit you best. Seems time is not quite right yet while formats and access details are still being worked out but fingers crossed this may be sorted by Christmas.

I note they link to a facebook page that is supposed to continue this debate. I joined up for this reason but don’t bother. It’s just a bunch of sad wanks going “Hi, I’m Emmy from Nebraska and I have an ebook”, “Hey Duuuude, I am surferman and Ebooks rule!” etc Don’t waste your time thinking you will get anything but heartburn from this.

Deadmandrinking11:39 pm 19 Jul 09

vg said :

‘Our kids’?

He has changed teams?

I see his personal life is a lot more important to you than his work as a politician.

It’s a bit of a split issue for me. On one hand, cheaper books are good, especially for me, considering most authors I read are based overseas. However, I do read more Australian authors than I imagine I would were I living in another country.

I think, as long as Australian libraries continue to stock a large amount of Australian literature, considering libraries are where I’m exposed to a lot of authors, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.

Pelican Lini11:20 pm 19 Jul 09

Once again, what does foodstuffs have to do with a debate about bringing down the cost of books?
But thanks for the warning on meat Anna Key (great name).
So, housebound, you “assumed (I) mistyped” and you “dodn’t” get my sarcasm.
(Snigger)

rosebud: These BeBook readers are great – I know quite a few people with them who are very happy. The price might seem a little steep, but keen readers would easily spend thousands a year on books, so the reader price really isn’t too bad.

housebound said :

Pelican Lini said :

housebound,
you should get out more.
Dunno what oranges and seafood have to do with books.
Any evidence of chemical contaminations in o.s. ink?
More importantly, how come comics and “graphic novels” cost so much?
They appear to be imported.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

Or how about the high levels of organochlorines in Australian meat?

‘Our kids’?

He has changed teams?

Somewhere on this site there should be some illustrations of what happens to American-ised text. http://savingaussiebooks.wordpress.com/. I can’t find it right now, sorry.

As for contaminants in ink (sorry – I dodn’t quite get your sarcasm, I assumed you mistyped), I wouldn’t eat ink – that wasn’t the point.

farnarkler said :

Try this rosebud: http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm

The electronic readers aren’t exactly cheap…….at the moment. They’ll come down in price eventually, you just have to decide whether you want one now or you can hold out till the price becomes realistic.

That’s great! Thanks!

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy9:49 pm 19 Jul 09

I fear what I am becoming. Once again I am in violent agreement with Woody.

Pelican Lini said :

housebound,
you should get out more.
Dunno what oranges and seafood have to do with books.
Any evidence of chemical contaminations in o.s. ink?
More importantly, how come comics and “graphic novels” cost so much?
They appear to be imported.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

And if you read my post, my support was for a ‘use it or lose it’ style control, not a blanket ban.

It’s the same faulty business model that the music, film and tv industries are fighting to keep alive. They need to update their business models to how the consumer wants to purchase a product. That’s generally how a successful business model works.

Woody Mann-Caruso9:44 pm 19 Jul 09

all good for the reader, but what about the livelihood of the writer

F.ck ’em. Write decent stuff we want to read at a price we want to pay, or starve – the same as every single other industry in the world. We don’t owe anybody a living. “Think of the poor Aussie writers” is a logical absurdity if you take it to its conclusion:

“If we let in imports, nobody will buy Australian literature any more.”
“Really? Why? We buy it now.”
“Well, the American stuff might be better value.”
“So you’re saying we should make do with sh.tty overpriced writing to keep sh.tty overpriced writers in a job?”
“Sh.tty overpriced Australian writers, yes.”

farnarkler said :

Johnboy publishers are far from the first in line to be shot come the revolution. Lawyers are first.

Why are we first? I love how everyone hates lawyers, until they’re in some kind of legal trouble, and then they’re your best friend.

*cries into hands at lawyer related hatred*

all good for the reader, but what about the livelihood of the writer, rosebud and others. does this not concern you? it should…

Try this rosebud: http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm

The electronic readers aren’t exactly cheap…….at the moment. They’ll come down in price eventually, you just have to decide whether you want one now or you can hold out till the price becomes realistic.

I nearly chocked on my chococuppolatte with mocha yesterday when I paid $36.99 for a new release book. Almost 40 bucks! Gasp!

I can’t wait for the day when I can conveniently and cheaply download a book onto some sort of useable reader. No more dusty books disintegrating in boxes under the bed, no more snot encrusted pages from the library to gag over. I hear a program, say Radio National book show talking about a book. I fancy reading it, go online and BAM! There it is. Lubbly jubbly.

Pelican Lini6:20 pm 19 Jul 09

housebound,
you should get out more.
Dunno what oranges and seafood have to do with books.
Any evidence of chemical contaminations in o.s. ink?
More importantly, how come comics and “graphic novels” cost so much?
They appear to be imported.

Apologies Futto, been hearing too many people saying “I’m alright with amazon jack”.

housebound said :

I really hope the Commonwealth Senate ignores the local politician of a local government on this issue, and supports the ‘use it or lose it’ proposal (local exclusive rights for a year, and then open slather).

But then, ‘cheaper for the conmsumer’ is a rather economic rationalist argument that I have never supported as a goal in itself. (eg – and only to illustrate the principle here – Australian seafood might be dearer than cheap chinese fish impoarts, but at least we know it isn’t tainted with banned chemicals, and local oranges aren’t as cheap as dumped argentinian imports, but at least we maintain the capacity to grow our own food, and my Australian tea/coffee isn;t produced with child/slave labour)

Perhaps Andrew Barr could explain the need to attack a local industry on a Sunday afternoon, when the chances of any journalist getting an alternative view would be reduced.

Firstly, there are quarantine and quality restrictions on imported food. A blanket ban is a cop out to not fund these properly and to not offend producers. I would much prefer argentinian oranges and stop the destruction of the Murray through growing food in totally unsuitable areas.

Secondly, why can’t those in support ie authors be available for comment on a Sunday? Too busy at the arts and crafts markets. On second thoughts, wasn’t it the Rush Hour track day today. I guess they would all be there.

Johnboy publishers are far from the first in line to be shot come the revolution. Lawyers are first.

Granny said :

I think you may have misunderstood futto, jb.

Haha. Yes. The .com.au was pretty subtle. I am very much in the pro-competion camp. I find it kind of ludacrius to suggest taxes and trade barries are what make me want to buy Australian.

I buy things that i WANT to buy. Entertain me or inform me and i will buy it, I don’t care what country the author is from nor what country the book is published in.

The book prices here are ridiculous. There is simply no evidence-based justification for maintaining these unnecessarily inflated prices.

I really hope the Commonwealth Senate ignores the local politician of a local government on this issue, and supports the ‘use it or lose it’ proposal (local exclusive rights for a year, and then open slather).

But then, ‘cheaper for the conmsumer’ is a rather economic rationalist argument that I have never supported as a goal in itself. (eg – and only to illustrate the principle here – Australian seafood might be dearer than cheap chinese fish impoarts, but at least we know it isn’t tainted with banned chemicals, and local oranges aren’t as cheap as dumped argentinian imports, but at least we maintain the capacity to grow our own food, and my Australian tea/coffee isn;t produced with child/slave labour)

Perhaps Andrew Barr could explain the need to attack a local industry on a Sunday afternoon, when the chances of any journalist getting an alternative view would be reduced.

I think you may have misunderstood futto, jb.

futto said :

i cant wait for the day i can buy books from Amazon.com.au and get free shipping and delivery in a few days.

Just because you personally like shopping online is a poor reason to continue to ban the mass import of cheap books.

i cant wait for the day i can buy books from Amazon.com.au and get free shipping and delivery in a few days.

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