eBook Pirates Blame eBook Prices

By Jason Boog 

Over the weekend, a reader on the Reddit discussion board complained about how print copies of The Kite Runner and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest were all cheaper than the eBook editons–prices set by the publishers under agency model pricing. “I love the kindle but this pricing stuff right now is making me question all of it,” they wrote.

Instantly, the online conversation turned to piracy as one reader wrote: “Is it morally wrong to purchase a paper copy of the book and torrent the ebook?” Another reader took it a step farther: “This is akin to buying a copy of an album on LP and then downloading an mp3 version for your mp3 player. I don’t see any problem with it; you’ve simply cut out the middle-man of transferring something you own from one format to another.”

The comment thread has since generated over 200 comments (both pro and anti-piracy) , exposing a passionate debate about piracy and the agency model taking place behind the publishing industry’s back. What do you think about these arguments that will shape the future of eBooks?