Paulo Coelho calls on readers to pirate books
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| "Pirate" Translators | Feb 2, 2012 |
This article provides an interesting alternative perspective on an issue which is usually presented in one-sided terms (IMO). I'd like to know what others think of it, particularly as translation has been and is crucial to this process/industry. How do you think this affects the translation industry and particularly the work and worth of literary translators?
Coelho makes some interesting points about the transfer and ownership of information and its value, but I guess - as the articl... See more This article provides an interesting alternative perspective on an issue which is usually presented in one-sided terms (IMO). I'd like to know what others think of it, particularly as translation has been and is crucial to this process/industry. How do you think this affects the translation industry and particularly the work and worth of literary translators?
Coelho makes some interesting points about the transfer and ownership of information and its value, but I guess - as the article states itself - it's not limited to novels. With manga graphic novels, this has gone on for a long time; I don't know how it has affected that industry but it'd be interesting to know if it affects other media translators are involved in as well. ▲ Collapse
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| In the light of the recently signed ACTA | Feb 2, 2012 |
This is particularly interesting in the light of the recently signed ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement).
While I don't like Coelho's books at all, I find this initiative to be great.
I've read somewhere that music and film piracy actually contributes to sales, because people - albeit not all, but many enough - often buy music and movies after hearing/seeing the illicit copies first. Not sure what's the situation abroad, but over here in Romania nobody would stay hours in a m... See more This is particularly interesting in the light of the recently signed ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement).
While I don't like Coelho's books at all, I find this initiative to be great.
I've read somewhere that music and film piracy actually contributes to sales, because people - albeit not all, but many enough - often buy music and movies after hearing/seeing the illicit copies first. Not sure what's the situation abroad, but over here in Romania nobody would stay hours in a music store to just listen to a music CD to see whether it's worth buying. I think the same applies to books, although it's a great experience to "smell the books" before buying them
I can imagine people buying books after seeing unauthorized pdf copies. ▲ Collapse
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He does have a point that one of the biggest challenges facing (new) writers is getting people to read their work in the first place. How do you persuade people to buy your new horror novel when you're Jim Brown, not Stephen King, especially when you don't have a huge publisher backing you?
Allowing the whole thing to be pirated might be a big much, but I'd certainly post at least the first few chapters online in that case. I'd want someone, anyone to read it and hopefully like it.... See more He does have a point that one of the biggest challenges facing (new) writers is getting people to read their work in the first place. How do you persuade people to buy your new horror novel when you're Jim Brown, not Stephen King, especially when you don't have a huge publisher backing you?
Allowing the whole thing to be pirated might be a big much, but I'd certainly post at least the first few chapters online in that case. I'd want someone, anyone to read it and hopefully like it. Even if they don't buy it, at least they know I'm out there.
Aisha Maniar wrote:
With manga graphic novels, this has gone on for a long time; I don't know how it has affected that industry but it'd be interesting to know if it affects other media translators are involved in as well.
I read an article recently that suggested that piracy is part of the reason why manga publishing is dying in America (http://io9.com/5874951/why-manga-publishing-is-dying-and-how-it-could-get-better).
[Edited at 2012-02-03 03:27 GMT]
[Edited at 2012-02-03 03:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Krzysztof Kajetanowicz (X) 
Poland
Local time: 19:25
English to Polish
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Annamaria Amik wrote:
I've read somewhere that music and film piracy actually contributes to sales, because people - albeit not all, but many enough - often buy music and movies after hearing/seeing the illicit copies first.
Nowadays it takes a musician about 15 thousand copies sold to win a Gold Record in Poland. Before the internet, it was a quarter million.
Not sure what's the situation abroad, but over here in Romania nobody would stay hours in a music store to just listen to a music CD to see whether it's worth buying. I think the same applies to books, although it's a great experience to "smell the books" before buying them I can imagine people buying books after seeing unauthorized pdf copies.
It's not a coincidence that piracy is not such a problem with books. People still like paper books more than electronic copies. With music, it's all media players and electronics.
[Edited at 2012-02-03 09:17 GMT]
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| A bad writer... | Feb 3, 2012 |
...Giving a bad, bad advice.
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Parrot
Spain
Local time: 19:25
Spanish to English
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| He's right on one point as far as I'm concerned | Feb 4, 2012 |
I actually go and buy the books and audio-visual products that I like or need after a sampling. As far as bookstores are concerned, that's why we browse.
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Nuno Rosalino
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:25
Member (2012)
English to Portuguese
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Ivan Rocha wrote:
...Giving a bad, bad advice.
If Paulho Coelho is a bad writer; where are the people clamoring for you to get your Nobel, good sir?
Maybe Neil Gaiman is more to your liking?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI
[Edited at 2012-02-04 12:36 GMT]
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and unusual thing to be said by author...
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Nuno Rosalino wrote: Ivan Rocha wrote:
...Giving a bad, bad advice. If Paulho Coelho is a bad writer; where are the people clamoring for you to get your Nobel, good sir? Maybe Neil Gaiman is more to your liking? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI[Edited at 2012-02-04 12:36 GMT]
...dear sir, is almost never a good gauge of one's quality. Danielle Steel, Stieg Larsson, Nora Roberts etc are all hugely popular.
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Petro Ebersöhn (X)
Local time: 19:25
| Coelho should speak for himself | Feb 6, 2012 |
If Coelho have no problem that people download his books (and forward it to their friends) he should state clearly that it concerns ONLY HIS books, not those of other authors. To many authors the sales of their books are their bread and butter, and if you pirate it, you take the food out of their mouths so to speak.
If you have translated a book, one person buys it and forward it to 20 other potential readers/buyers, you only get commission on one book - 20 times less than if the 2... See more If Coelho have no problem that people download his books (and forward it to their friends) he should state clearly that it concerns ONLY HIS books, not those of other authors. To many authors the sales of their books are their bread and butter, and if you pirate it, you take the food out of their mouths so to speak.
If you have translated a book, one person buys it and forward it to 20 other potential readers/buyers, you only get commission on one book - 20 times less than if the 20 readers bought it. I think as translators our remuneration is small enough; why give it up completely for some author's whim? Would he be willing to pay his translator more upfront money for the loss of income he creates by encouraging piracy. ▲ Collapse
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