So, there I am minding my own business when approached by a stranger (who obviously knew me). She told me she’d read and loved all my books, loving them even more as they were free.
‘Free?’ I enquired. ‘I don’t think my books are ever free.’
‘Let me show you where I get all my favourite author books,’ she said and proceeded to search on her iPhone.
And there they were – FREE to download in PDF format.
My first mistake was to let her know (politely) that she was using a pirate site. Her expression was…Well, she was mortified.
My second mistake was trying to make her feel better by acknowledging that some pirate sites can be very clever with the wording to make it appear they are ‘doing the right thing’ by the copyright holder.
Foolishly, I went on the say the pirates are the only ones who make money from such sites. (The lady was older, so my rabbiting on about online affiliate advertising that some sites use to make their money was lost on her. Not so when I added (breathless by now) that her personal details, used to log on and acquire books, including her computer details, will have been sold on to unlimited third parties by now, again providing the pirate people with money.
My third mistake was asking a rather simple question, ‘Why would anyone run a website of free books if not to make money?’
Three strikes and I was definitely out of favour.
That was when she swore at me (yes, she was older but she knew some words) and threatened to go home and give me one-star reviews. (I’m not sure pirate sites have review opportunities so I gather it will be Amazon or Goodreads, or some other official site.)
So I came home and searched, and yes my books are listed on several pirate sites. People are downloading my books every day and I’m not getting a cent. In Ms Mad Pants’ defence, the clever wording the site did look realistic (if you ignore their grammar and punctuation).
Sample of PIRATE SITE wording (with their poor spelling and grammar):
We do not intend to support illegal activity. (But they do) We uses Search API to find the overview of books over the internet, but we dont [sic] host any files. (But they do keep your personal and IP address details on a database to sell on to more cyber criminals). All document files is the property of their respective owners, please respect the publisher and the author for their copyrighted creations. (They are putting the legal onus on you.) If you find documents that should not be here please report them. (And, of course, there is no link for reporting on their site.)
So, please, if you want a free book, borrow from a friend, or better still consider your local library (yes, authors are paid each time a book is borrowed). And if you know someone who downloads free books, be a friend and let them know it’s wrong and it’s risky. They may not even realise.
On second thoughts, maybe don’t. Instead, take a moment to go to your favourite author’s book (a.k.a mine!) online and give it a genuine star rating or a review. Every one helps.
I asked someone to leave a book club I belonged too as they were downloading pirate copies and knew it too.
Ha! Good on you, Nigelle-ann. I think this lady was more embarrassed to learn the truth. (even though I was very sweet!!!)
I can imagine how hopping mad that encounter must have made you feel Jenn. how is it that people are in the wrong can always turn it around to make you look like the bad guy. Is there any way that the pirate site can be reported and taken down? My commiserations.
I’m fine. But I do feel bad for her, Delores. and I hope she doesn’t post a bad review. Still checking. 🙂
Whoa, pirates and blackmail – nightmare. And so you went home and wrote a really important post we can all like and share. Good on you Jenn! xx
I did, Sara! I can be pretty certain she is NOT going to be checking out my blog!!!!! 🙂
My friend, author Helen Jones, wrote about this the other day with her books. It’s not fair, but with everything so global now, how can the owners be traced, so how do you stop it? Can you notify the web host, so they can shut the website down? I feel for you and for all authors whose creative work is being exploited like this. Louise
PS. A bit rich of the woman to shoot the messenger.
Louise, I hear there are two camps. One is to stress out and send take down notices, or something. The other is, it is a battle you will never win so get over it. They take down one day and your books pop up again a week later. I am going with the get over it camp. I could waste hours that would be better spent writing another book. Hopefully the publishing biz will come up with a solution one day.
Hi Jenn, that’s really awful. I had no idea that happens with books too. I thought it was just movies and music. Let’s hope the majority of people purchase your books the right way. I could never do that I feel guilty enough when I buy a book from a book fair or used book shop.