Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Be aware: anyone who tries to turn this into an edition war will get to go visit other sites for a while. We'll have none of that, and we'll have no personal attacks against the people who work at WotC.
WotC puts a stop to online sales of PDFs
WhatGravitas
Explorer
Well, the core book sales and PHB2 sales seemed pretty good, considering the reprint rates and amazon ranks (and problems).
However, I think it's very possible that they had less than expected PDF sales - meaning their e-department isn't reporting enough, hence the blame on piracy. That would also explain why they pulled the old edition products as well, because they're part of the same department.
Cheers, LT.
Could cutting off the online sale of pdfs be an attempt to quantify / prove their damages? -- "Look m'lord, these pirates forced the plaintiff to stop doing business with these fine online merchants, which is costing us 300k a month in business?" -- "M'lord it is also my submission that the plaintiff lost the good will of many customers due to the defendants piracy, forcing them to shut down online sales"
Or are the damages all statutory down in the states?
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Agamon
Adventurer
Yep, first thing I thought of, too. Reminds me of some other things we can't discuss here because it's not about business policy. But the point is, it's silly to think this will help.
But can they track piracy? Is this possible for them?
Plausible? Sure. But still entirely speculative.
"No sense otherwise?" Um... that's a bit much. Really, nobody speaking on this has enough data to claim they know what makes sense, and what doesn't.
I wonder if Wizards might try something with a non-intrusive form of DRM.
One positive thing they might do (and I'd encourage) is consider releasing the products on something like Steam or iTunes. That seems pretty effective in stoping piracy of their games, supports authentication, etc.
Of course, does Steam do e-books? I know iTunes does...
One positive thing they might do (and I'd encourage) is consider releasing the products on something like Steam or iTunes. That seems pretty effective in stoping piracy of their games, supports authentication, etc.
Of course, does Steam do e-books? I know iTunes does...
Lending more proof to my theory that this is driven by not meeting corporate goals...
Hasbro to Webcast 2009 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 27, 2009-- Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) today announced that it will webcast its first quarter results via the Internet. The webcast will take place on Monday April 20, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, following the release of Hasbro's financial results.
This is the sort of thing that you do a week or two before a quarterly meeting so that you boss can tell his boss and so on all the way up the ladder that yes, there is a problem meeting revenue goals, but look what we are doing to address it. I've seen this scenario too many times in my corporate past life...
Hasbro to Webcast 2009 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 27, 2009-- Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) today announced that it will webcast its first quarter results via the Internet. The webcast will take place on Monday April 20, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, following the release of Hasbro's financial results.
This is the sort of thing that you do a week or two before a quarterly meeting so that you boss can tell his boss and so on all the way up the ladder that yes, there is a problem meeting revenue goals, but look what we are doing to address it. I've seen this scenario too many times in my corporate past life...
jdrakeh
Front Range Warlock
Not torrents specifically, but I did report some specific individuals and sites, yeah (as did several other ENWorlders, I'm sure). I'll be honest — I wish I hadn't done that now. The only change that I've seen as a result of my trying to do the next right thing in this instance has been the shuttering of the sole affordable, legal, point of access to old, out of print, TSR products.
