new revenue making possibility for pianostreet---book printing of posts

[Derek]

pianostreet is a great site. Not without pointless posts, not without trolls, but it is great. There is wisdom to be found here and friendship to be found here. Sometimes, we might enjoy the words and wisdom of a particular person so much we'd like to have it in printed form. I'd be willing to pay the owners of pianostreet a fee to have all posts by one or more authors printed, in book form, and sent to me. Perhaps all that would need to be done would be prompt the user for permission for this to happen, or something.  This might be fun for music, as well. I'd love to just click on something and say: "Send me CD-R's of all of quantums/chopinatics/maylas/pianowolfi  etc.'s music"  Of course I could do this myself, but I'm lazy and would actually pay pianostreet to do it for me. Just a thought...wonder if there'd be interest out there in this....anyone else like the idea?

[jesc]

Interesting. I can think of a few consequences. There's the immediate issue with the authors as stated and that needs to be settled. (This process might get dirty. You need lawyers for this)

First one is, someone (namely pianostreet) will be making money from music the performer gave for free (posted freely on the internet). I don't know the specific laws but there might be something wrong with that (there are avenues a performer might take legally that can put pianostreet in a tight spot). The thing I can see is, the user will only be paying for the service of gathering all media into a CD-R.

Next is the book. It should be clear in the book that all the information contained in the book is available free online. If the book becomes available not just on pianostreet someone might buy it and create an issue that everything he paid for is available free online (this also goes for the CD-R). It should be clear that it's just repackaged or organized.  Again, the customer is paying for the service of it being packaged into an accessible media.

These are just problems off the top of my head. I'm not a lawyer. If there's a lawyer here who can say that the problems I stated aren't an issue, then fine. More people will be happy

[Derek]

Is it illegal for me to open up a browser and load up a thread and hit "print" at my home? If pianostreet did it as a one-off service to individuals, I can't see how that'd be any different from printing privately at home. I could see a problem if pianostreet made a profit on it and had several pre-made books already available, without getting permission from the authors, though.

[jesc]

Is it illegal for me to open up a browser and load up a thread and hit "print" at my home?

In this example, no one is directly making money off something given for free.

If pianostreet did it as a one-off service to individuals

Similar to what I suggested above, paying for the service.

If there are no problems fine, again what I said above more people will be happy  The problems I outlined are roughly based on some cases that I saw happen. I don't want that to happen to pianostreet.

*** last statement edited to sound less hostile. ***
"I suggest caution to pianostreet when considering this, there's a sea of technicalities out there that can really do harm to everyone. Even to the ones with good intentions. Simple message, be careful."

[m1469]

I'm not too fond of the idea, personally.

[m1469]

Getting paid to put together somebody else's written ideas is generally called "being a publisher," and generally isn't a circumstance where the author isn't paid, as well.  If there are posts here drawing that kind of interest, then it's already a plus for the forum.

[jesc]

Getting paid to put together somebody else's written ideas is generally called "being a publisher," and generally isn't a circumstance where the author isn't paid, as well.

The interesting part of that will be is that the author will be putting a price tag on something he/she has given for free. That will fall on the negotiations with each author the OP has referred to.

My opinion is restrained here cause I have absolutely no idea how each author will react since there are people who will stand for their "free work" to be always free.  

Last paragraph is a nudge to the authors referred above to post their reaction so I can stop speculating and leave this thread (cause I just see so many things that can go wrong). 

I'm not too fond of the idea, personally.

Ok that's one... the rest?

[m1469]

Once you throw in a word like "revenue," then an author should have the option of getting paid.  Once you put a price tag on it, then it's not free for the consumer anymore, even if the author decides not to take a cut based on a principle of wanting it to be free.  Once you have a post with a quote in it from somebody else (or from a book, or another website, etc.), you have more than one author.    

[Derek]

Oh well, just another of millions of brain farts that I seem to have been born into this world to make.

[m1469]

Oh well, just another of millions of brain farts that I seem to have been born into this world to make.

haha ... just stick 'em all in a hot-air balloon ... that way even brain farts will get you somewhere eventually   (btw, I don't think of this idea as that, I just think it's funny what you said  ).

[jesc]

Oh well, just another of millions of brain farts that I seem to have been born into this world to make.

I think we all care for pianostreet. We're just approaching it from different directions  

[m1469]

I think we all care for pianostreet.

awww ... does pianostreet need some pets?  *strokes pianostreet and scratches it under the chin*

[jesc]

awww ... does pianostreet need some pets?  *strokes pianostreet and scratches it under the chin*

ook... I'm reading this question as... does your pet need some pets?

edit: ooooh....pets - verb ... oh I thought ...pets - noun...

[m1469]

Well, if we are talking nouns ... pianostreet really could use some more pets  .  But, I'm sorry, I'm a snuggler ... I like to snuggle my doggy and I just like how soft he feels ... his ears are like velvet and I couldn't actually snuggle a pianostreet pet