You may have seen news reports about the suit against Meta for pirating 7.5 million books and 81 million academic papers to train the Llama LLM (artificial intelligence). Atlantis has introduced a database that allows authors to check if their works were included in Libgen’s dataset, and I’ve found that over 90 of my books were among those listed.
(Despite cannibalizing 90+ of my books, asking Llama to write in the style of P.D. Workman does not produce anything that sounds remotely like my writing.)
It it one thing to train AI on what is publicly available on the internet. It is quite another to assess the cost of purchasing book licenses and decide to steal them instead. The documents that have been filed in the class action suit clearly show that this was no innocent mistake. Meta and its officers knew exactly what they were doing and some employees did challenge their decision to obtain these books illegally.
So what does that have to do with you, as a reader?
This news has brought to light just how extensive book pirating is and how much money authors are losing to pirates. At least 90 of my books are available on pirate sites, and probably all of them are. There is no way I can prevent this. Even not offering ebooks does not prevent pirating, as print books can be very quickly scanned and digitized.
I assume that if you care enough about me as an author to read this blog or be on my newsletter list, you are not actively out there pirating my books! You want to support the authors you love. But you may have questions about pirating, so let’s dive into it!
How can I tell the difference between legitimate booksellers or e-libraries and pirates?
- Look for Established Retailers: You know the names of the major retailers—Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Google Books, etc. My books are legitimately listed on all of those sites. If a site looks unprofessional or offers books at prices that seem too good to be true (especially if they’re free), it might be a pirate site.
- Use Trusted Library Services: A lot of pirates hide under the guise of being libraries. They offer monthly memberships, and readers think the site has actually licensed the ebooks and are legitimately lending them out, when they are stolen. How do you find legitimate online libraries?
- check your local library to see what ebook library services they give you access to, such as Libby, Hoopla, or Overdrive
- some of the legitimate online subscription services, are Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Scribd, Everand, and Kobo Plus. (Note that KU and Audible frequently require that authors not offer their ebooks on any other sites, limiting their diversification potential. Kobo Plus and Scribd allow authors to publish on as many sites as they like.)
- more and more authors are offering direct subscriptions to their works
- Ask the Question: A quick internet search will tell you in seconds whether a site is a pirate or a legitimate bookseller.
How can I read my favorite authors if I am on a budget?
- Library Access: Request your favourite books and authors if your public library does not already carry them. As well as physical books, check to see what ebooks and audiobooks your library card will allow you access to.
- Book Sales & Promotions: Keep an eye out for sales and giveaways. Subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media to be notified when I have a sale on. Stuff Your eReader events are quite popular right now, as is BookBub.
- Used Bookstores & Online Marketplaces: Purchasing used books from thrift stores, online marketplaces (like AbeBooks), or charity shops is another budget-friendly option.
- Support Indie Authors Directly: More and more authors are selling their works directly and may offer special sales, bundles, coupons, or subscriptions. My estore can be found at shop.pdworkman.com
Common misconceptions about book piracy
- Everyone does it: Many people believe that if others are downloading books illegally, it’s okay. But lots of people stealing does not make it right. It just bankrupts the store.
- Piracy doesn’t hurt anyone: Some believe that piracy doesn’t impact authors financially because they assume the author is already wealthy or doesn’t notice lost sales. In reality, many writers rely on book sales for their income, and piracy can significantly affect their livelihood. While there are wealthy authors out there, many are just scraping by or need a regular full-time job in addition to their writing. Don’t steal from authors!
- Traditionally published authors make a lot of money: Many authors earn very little from traditional publishing deals after expenses and splits with agents/publishers are considered.
What are other ways to support my favourite authors?
- Leave Reviews: Reviews on platforms like Goodreads or retail platforms can significantly impact an author’s visibility and sales.
- Engage on Social Media: Follow your favorite authors, share their posts, participate in discussions about their work, and recommend them to friends. You can find me as @pdworkmanauthor on most social media, follow my Facebook page, and join my new Facebook reader group. I’d love to see you there!
- Attend Events: Participate in book signings, readings, or literary festivals where you can meet authors in person and show your support directly.
- Join Book Clubs: Discussing an author’s work in a group setting not only promotes their writing but also encourages others to read their books.
- Purchase Merch or Extras: I know a number of authors who make a lot on merchandise related to their books (like bookmarks, art prints, etc.)
