Read on Twitter
Comics piracy real talk:
This is not a hill that creators and readers should die on. Piracy is a symptom of a broken distribution system run by companies that, like the music labels before, are struggling to adapt to technological and cultural change.
(Thread)
This is not a hill that creators and readers should die on. Piracy is a symptom of a broken distribution system run by companies that, like the music labels before, are struggling to adapt to technological and cultural change.
(Thread)
It may feel cathartic for creators to yell on Twitter at readers who pirate. I sympathize. It is incredibly troubling and disheartening for me to learn that so many sales are probably being lost to pirating. But it’s not going to change much. It’s not real action.
It’s unrealistic to think piracy can be eliminated. But publishing companies and creators could join in taking legal action against the websites which allow pirated content. This is what other industries do, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we? But that won’t solve it either.
A far more important step would be making it easier and cheaper to buy comics online. If buying comics the “right” way was simple, more people would do it. I have DEEP respect for direct market shops, and for Comixology, but can you honestly say they make buying comics easy?
If comics had a diverse and pervasive online presence comparative to film, books, music, podcasts etc, - with well funded marketing and many easy to access portals - we would sell more comics. The current system basically hides comics away behind a curtain of obscurity.
We have to confront that fact and makes some serious changes. It’s insane to continue offering comics to such a small audience in such a limited way and bemoaning the lack of growth.
Piracy will shrink if comics are visible. Piracy will shrink if buying a comic is one click away. Can we talk about how to make that happen?
Addendum: creators are broke because companies aren’t paying enough, generally. The companies aren’t broke. So why are creators? I don’t think we want to confront that reality because everyone is frightened of rocking the boat.
