Debates: VERSUS?
Steve: E-distribution is much more efficient and cost-effective than print distribution. Authors and publishers are currently concerned that their lower priced ebooks will be copied and illegally sold and distributed. Thus far, there is not much evidence that illegal copying of ebooks is a common problem especially if the price of the ebook is reasonable. In fact, we are seeing that the use of digital rights management [DRM] technology is decreasing. When that happens, there will be little difference between "the software" and the physical book.
John Parsons (john@intuideas.com), former Editorial Director of The Seybold Report, is an independent writer, ghostwriter, and editor. He is the co-author of the interactive printed textbook, Introduction to Graphic Communication, on the art, science and business of print, which has been adopted by Ryerson, Arizona State, the University of Houston, and many other schools and vocational training centers. Custom editions of the book are under consideration by major printing companies and franchises for internal training purposes.