Publishing & the Net LO2496

Orbis (74363.3637@compuserve.com)
21 Aug 95 11:24:48 EDT

Replying to LO2462 -- was "Groupware for Learning"
[...Subject line changed by your host...]

Michael McMaster recently wrote:
>I am working on my next book and exploring ways to allow
>participation via electronic media. I can see great value in
>pursuing this path. I can also see that the work of formulating and
>writing will not allow me to reap financial reward - and could even
>give that away to others while excluding myself - if placed in the
>public medium of Internet, Web sites or Notes.

>Within a small community that honours some form of "property rights"
>- - whether of the individual or of the group itself - this could work
>easily. Outside of such a community, the result might be more gain
>for me - psychic and/or monetary - than if I protect it ... and it
>might not. (There is no "economy" if everything is free. Even in an
>ecology, everything isn't free.)

Two comments:

1. There are very large communities that honour some form of "property
rights." In the online world a lot of software is now distributed as
shareware, where the user downloads it and then sends a check to the
developer. The fact that this practice has grown seems to indicate that it
is working to a level that developers are comfortable with it. Built into
the purchase "contract" is the developer's commitment to provide some form
ongoing support of the software -- a parallel in writing might be ongoing
discussion and updates on applications.

2. The explosion of the Net, via the Web, and the related growth of
electronic commerce, means that many folks are working on the issues that
Michael raises. We are starting to see online information services that
require a payment method, such as an account or a credit card, before you
can go to other levels, or download stuff. I suspect that we will soon see
these offered as an umbrella service to anyone who wants to sell their
information -- like renting a section in a virtual store, and being
supported by an electronic marketing and electronic cash system.

The issue that many are struggling with is pricing. A book's costs include
printing, physical distribution and the bookseller's mark-up, while an
online service does not not need these. A recent WSJ article argued that
suppliers need to be prepared to use their reduced costs to offer
discounts that will incent the use of online methods. It stated that most
continue to price the same as via other channels.

--
Peter A. Smith
Orbis Learning Corporation
74363,3637@compuserve.com