When I was active on Myspace (I am not anymore), “Fly me to the moon” (Frank Sinatra) was deleted from my profile.
So who deleted the song? The answer is simple: greed and ignorance.
Greed that does not understand that this world has changed. Ignorance that thinks that, if the music is available for free, people are not going to buy the CD.
A] some will say :
you are rich enough to afford having your texts here for free.
It is true that I am rich (as were Frank Sinatra, and his heirs), but this is not the point. The point is that we want to first and foremost SHARE something. If you go to most of the pages, what will you see? Fantastic pictures, great blogs, amazing photos. For free. My texts are for free here. And you can reproduce them anywhere provided that you name the author.
B] The industry will say:
artists cannot survive without being paid.
But the industry is thinking on the opposite direction of our reality today. I follow Hilal on Twitter (even if she tweets once a year…). Hilal is from Turkey, but lives in Russia (and she is the main character in ALEPH). She first read a pirate edition of “The Alchemist”. Hilal download the text, read it, decided to buy the book. Up to today, I have over 12.000.000 hard copies sold in Russia, and counting.
C] I also decided to create “The Pirate Coelho”, an non-official fan page that allows people to download the full texts in different languages. I am selling more books now than ever. (Where is it? Well, not difficult to find…)
D] How did all these social communities start?
At first it was just wanting to chat with another person. But chatting isn’t enough – we have to share the music, the book or the film that we love. When there was no law against it, this information was exchanged freely. Finally, when the entertainment industry caught on, the repression began.
E] Art is not an orange.
If you buy an orange and eat it, you have to buy another one, and then it makes sense that oranges should not be given for free, because the consumer consumes the product. Art is about beauty. Music is about beauty. If I visit a page and I like the music, I am sure I will buy the CD, because I want to know more about the work of the artist.
F] A woman went to a market and saw two jars.
She asked the vendor for the price:: “ten coins”, he answered.
The woman was surprised: “but one of these jars has been painted by an artist!”
The vendor replied: ” I am selling jars. Beauty has no price.”
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es muy interesante todas las opiniones aqui expuestas, y se aprende bastante si se quere dedicar al lucro con el arte y la belleza, pero tambien es muy valido entender que personas como yo ,que difilmente tenemos acceso a comprar cada obra que leemos en el internet sean del Sr. coelho u otros , nos veriamos limitados a no leer grandes obras o mendigar a quien si puede pagarlas, que las deje en un bazar o que las preste . ciertamente cuando una obra me llega al corazon hago todo por adquirirla y prestarla a quien la pida, y mas aun a recomendarla cuantas veces tengo oportunidad, solo asi hago sinergia de venta .
Dear Paolo,
Your success is in your philosophy. All your followers share same philosophy and the number is almost 6 millions. That means there are more great people. We have to share either for business or for non business. Karma is always a circle.
I love reading Paolo’s writings.
I heard that his book is going to be translated in Mongolian. Is that true?
Ariun
The subject of piracy and intellectual property has occupied my thoughts considerably, especially considering how I view the internet as the “Great Library” and feel that free information is essential for the betterment of mankind. It’s allowed more diversity, its helped eradicate prejudices and its delighted and inspired those that have had a chance of sampling more of what they like to hear and see.
However, I believe that this wonderful period will not last in its unfettered state. Already technology is at a stage where its possible to identify virtually every individual on the net, rather like a CSI investigation, it is possible to identify an individual from an IP location by their activity, Gmail, FB accounts etc etc. Most people have nothing to hide with regards to their activities on the net and are fully aware there is not much they can do to stop this. It is with this in mind that I believe that piracy in its current state will become a thing of the pass ( Just like smoking inside public places has become a thing of the past – in most western countries that is. – the general populace has had to accept this. For fear of criminal sanctions, and being seen as a discourteous act to fellow civilians).
Already the likes of Apple and their IPhones, have made it fashionable to pay for downloads and a “no piracy” stance has been accepted by the masses.
“We will all look back and comment on how the internet in the beginning allowed us access to virtually everything for free.”
HH
I’d like to pay, for full length movies, for music, in open formats like mp3. But here can you get those? The industry is so encumbered by their own laws and regulations, they can’t even sell their own wares properly in fear of thousands of litigations.
Give me a site that has our culture for sale, open formats, easy and fast access. This is too hard for the greedy lawyers and businesspeople to fathom: that this is where the real money are tomorrow..
Not in Digital Restrictions Management-schemes, spying, litigating and generally pissing on your customers.
thank you Paulo…!
No matter how many ebooks I download and read, for me, the real pleasure or rather kick out of reading comes only when I leaf through the pages of a physical book. Otherwise there always seems to be something missing.
Today had gone to a book shop at random, and though I had read “The Winner Stands Alone” from a library here, I bought this book.
So I think as long as there are people who enjoy reading a book will always be the medium of preference.
i definitely agree with you, i got all you books on hard copy even special edition, but i also got all of them on an electronic pirated copy, it is a thing i got for digital information it doesn’t cease to amaze me how much of it you can carry along in a little tiny piece of silicon….
I agree Paulo with you….. I know one day when I do make something out of music it won’t be by selling down loads… That I will get out so people hear me and decide whether they are spending there money on shit or something they can really tell there friends about. I hate it when I download music and later find out this really suxxxx…. I am stuck w/ the purchase. O well I guess that’s the way the world works…. Just cuz you like one song does not mean the rest are clicking w/ ya….. I guess it’s all about risk in the game of getting to know music, authors and films…. You just take the plunge and buy the film, the book, and the CD…. However just a lil taste of what you are about to purchase would be a nice heads up.
I think piracy will continue forever to exist, one of the oldest profession(if it can be called that way)in this world, they were pirates long before, the only difference is that piracy is not only limited to the oceans and ships right now, there is piracy everywhere.
I wanted to share this page…but I am unable to do so…:(
P.S.: I wanted to share this with these lines..”Thats the confidence of a true artist…a true writer…and more than anything else…a true creator…I am proud to share this page…”
piracy can not be stopped ever, this is type of trafficking that will continue to make some very rich and others miss out on real royalties.
But at the same time, those who genuinely appreciate art and music will buy the real thing always.
I 100 percent agree w/ you and I am on the same page as well. You can’t put a price on beauty or passion…. Whether it’s 10 coins or 10,000 Dollars…. Beauty and Passion should never hold a price. Yet we do live in a world of greed and ignorance so it always will… A high price….
From The Netherlands, Thank you for sharing this! Its time 2 open the discussion about the subject! With Love Antoinette xx
I adoreeeeeeeeeee your thoughts Paulo, u r the greatest person on this planet. God Blesses, with all my love and respect:)
Very kind of you of listing this point here. I always buy your pirated books first and gift originals to several people I care… Love your work
Gracias Paolo! So true, all you said, your thoughts borrowed through your books are worth having in hard copy! Blessings!
Many in developing countries started from using pirated copies:books,software,etc. But slowly they have started using genuine,official copies of books of their favorite authors,often used softwares either when they found it beneficial to do so.
However, piracy is dreadful as it affects rightful people.Moreover,look at the difference between pirated and genuine copies of books; @50 I do not go for pirated versions.
Don’t worry, I still love u’re books too, but I’m afraid to forgot my one and only creation and that is the God of all. And I’m not that type of stay on one book, I’m searching all kinds of wisdom and knowledge 4 others too. I believed some of your books is based and structure of the bible and you just make it simple and understood. Of, course now a days no one reading the bible anymore , so I’m glad theirs people like you,a famous writer could bring the light and share to others, and getting them in the right path. I’m hoping more blessings to you, and more fun in life. Kind regards XxXx
People who go out and buy the book after they’ve read it on the internet only do it when the book appeals to them in epic ways. I might read a fast paced thriller once or twice but I am sure not going to pay for it just to add it to my drawing room collection of books. And if I’ve read it already on the internet, I probably will not go out and buy the book. Most people are like me, shrewd and practical. Not noble and conscientious.
Picture this. An artist fresh out of school wrote his first book. He is no Jorge Loius Borges, but he can write something of a thriller. If his books are pirated, he will be substantially at loss; he is a professional writer. He does this for a living. There is no other way to get money. How will he support himself or his family?
Piracy is bad. A J.K. Rowling can afford to ignore piracy. A first time writer who did not make it to the best-selling list cannot ignore the loss due to piracy.
You have a valid point there Mag.
Only a book that inspires you will be bought even after you’ve read it. “To Kill a Mocking Bird” was one such book. I bought at least 3 copies of the book on different occassions, having lost the previous ones.
Once I tried reading Sydney Sheldon’s “Tell me your dreams” a second time and I was quite surprised by the sheer hopelessness of the book. But the first time round I couldn’t keep it down wanting to know what happened next in the plot.
But I wonder if anyone would bother to make pirated copies of first time writers unless it was worth. And if its worth, definitely piracy or no piracy the book will sell.
But what worries me more is the pirated books that are available in the streets. I bought a copy of “The Lost Symbol” when it had come out for something like 1/7th the actual price. I felt happy that I hadn’t spend money on buying an original. But when I read “The Alchemist” I went out and bought an original.
So coming back to the beginning its the content that actually matters.
I have also read your books online. Eventhough, I have some of them in paper, I wanted to practice my portugues, so I read them all over. I shared them. And when The Aleph came out in Brazil, I asked a friend who went there to buy me a copy. So, well done!!!!!!!
Most interesting thing I have read on Facebook in a very long time. Comments are great. It’s a difficult situation, and there is no right or wrong here. I read from the library growing up, we had a good one. Other cities did not. That gave me a huge advantage over other students. Mom didn’t allow me to buy books if the library had them! But we read continually.
I didn’t pay for books until university, except occasionally. I was surprised at their cost, and the rules regarding resale when the course finished.
I don’t know what the solution is, but we’re not there yet.
My mothers friend lent me the Alchemist years ago, not expecting it back, i then lent it to another friend, i also did not expect it back, hoping, as the original owner had, that as many people as possible would be touched by the book’s beauty. I have bought the book many times over to give to others, and have also bought your whole collection of books to keep with me at home. If it had not been shared around for free, I would never have enjoyed your work and bought as many copies as i have, so i completely agree with you xx LIVE AND LOVE xx
i really love what i’m getting from your thoughts :) such an amazing and one of a kind author. God bless. :)
It was my brother who first introduced you to me by asking me to read The Alchemist that he got from a friend. And I got hook to it. I love the creativity, the flow of thought and the story. What is preventing me from buying my own copy of your books is that your books are expensive here in the Philippines and the market is only for the elite.
I still like your writing and share things I read on your blog on facebook.
“beauty has NO price”..
I actually read all Coelho books I read for free from some site. It was not because I love pirates, but it’s because I’m a student and could not afford the books. Do people without the means cannot savor the beauty of art? Is art only for those who have money? But I promise myself that I’ll buy each and every book someday for it is more satisfying when you know that you helped all the people that made this arts came to being. And an ebook is no better than a real book, which you can hug and kiss after reading.
Totally agree Paulo. I freed the firts chapter of your book Brida on your web site and even though you had the full book available to read online I was in the book store buying a copy within an hour of first finding it online. Continue to share your gifts as you do, as those who give something always receive what they give 10 fold in return :)
If there’s a new movie out, and I can’t see it in my country, or I have to go to cinema (I am disabled) then I am sorry, but I will download it from the net. And there’s anger associated with lack of real hard work shown from the entertainment industry to do anything about people like me.
To the 47 year old person who lost their job in the entertainment: don’t blame piracy for that. In fact blaming anyone will not get you anywhere. I don’t know and can’t know what was the particular situation there, but statistics show that people who download are also the ones that spend MORE on entertainment then others. So if your company is using piracy as an excuse for layoffs, then they are just being lazy and dishonest.
God bless you all.
It is because of free domain like YouTube that I discover. When I discover I want to learn more. When I wnt to learn more, I find the money to purchase……. I purchase for me. I purchase for friends!
When I discovered the Alchemist, I purchased
from goodwill. Not enough money at the time. Now I save for the new editions, I share these with friends, with family, with strangers. There is indeed enough! There is no lack. There is only universal love. Namaste
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters was once asked in a magazine interview what he thought of music piracy. He was completely indifferent to it and when on to say that the only money he and most musicians care about is what they make from performing live.
He thinks it only makes sense that people download all the music they want, see what they like, and then decide what artists they choose to support and invest the money to go see them live. Live performances are the thing musicians truly live for. Not making a penny off every single thing. Thats what the record labels care about.
As an artist myself, whose friends are also artists, musicians, etc. I can testify that Grohl’s viewpoint represents a great deal of our feelings (or lack thereof) about something like music piracy. We share our work to share our messages, and we are gratified when people respond to it somehow.
Get all of the music you want and appreciate the variety of talent that people all over the world have expressed.
Pay them back by doing whatever you can to see them live and support them by having a good time.
I think Art IS an orange! Look at the markets with foreign foods and fruits. You can get foreign fruits for free there, because the people first have to taste it. Its the best marketing you can do!
So Very true
As
I love your books I always download them from Audible ( I didn’t know their were free downloads of books) however I’ll still always buy my copies & highly recommend them to anyone who listens to me chatter away
Music I also Love
You are so right when someone else recommends something & We Like it we will buy it too
Thank you from the bottom of my Heart for your generosity of SHARRING :)
Bless You Paul
Era bom se todos teivessem essa generosidade e pensassem assim parabéns
Dear Paulo,
I have read (and bought) and loved all of your books, many times over! I’ve shared them with people even more. I give “The Alchemist” to everyone I know who’s embarking on a new adventure in their lives, particularly travelling, always with the instruction to pass it on to another adventurer as that is the way you were introduced to me. I can easily say I have had the pleasure of introducing your works to at least 50 people, and hopefully they have continued the tradition…
I, myself, travel constantly, I am an Aviation Gypsy, but I love to read which is cumbersome as I devour books by the week (and especially cumbersome carrying 4 kilo’s of books everywhere along with everything else) I have recently been introduced to the Kindle, which is not as good as the feel of a paper book. It is however amazing for someone like me, as I can bring all my favourite books with me and enjoy them anytime anywhere. I still have a huge book collection, almost a library! And I don’t want to give them up but it frustrates me that if I want to enjoy the pleasure of a story, (that was written, presumably, to be read), I either must burden myself with excess baggage & possibly sacrifice the book along the way (your books are never a sacrifice mind, always a gift) or I can get the book electronically but never both…
Wouldn’t it be great if we bought a book in a shop/online etc and there was a free download of the electronic version of the book included, a chance to download it and install it, even if only once. I mean we’ve already paid for the story, the medium shouldn’t matter
Your collection is something which I cherish whenever I do get the chance to get ‘home’ to my library, but I would cherish them everywhere I go if I had them on my e-reader. (Perhaps I’d even manage to hold onto my own copy of “The Alchemist” for longer than a few weeks!).
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and tales with the world, in such beautiful ways,
Yours, (a grateful admirer of your inspiring works),
Kate
Kate
That’s an odd story. I have been reading all books in e format for nearly ten years. I used to put them on my pocket Palm and nowadays read them on my itouch or iphone. The huge advantage is that one always has a dozen books, audio books, magazines and articles in one’s pocket with no need for forward planning or carrying around a silly Kindle that fits in no pocket known to man (or woman). Odd moments in cabs, waiting for people who are late or unexpectedly finding the chance to sit on a park bench are all opportunities to catch up.
I have almost all Paulo’s books at the touch of a button. And modern interfaces have the fascinating addition that not only can one highlight or mark one’s favourite passages, but similarly marked phrases or passages favoured by othr readers also show up in real time. Which is sometimes very interesting. I mentioned to my former wife a highlighted disagreement between husband and wife. She had already found it.
Roger
i also first read a pirated edition of “Alchemist”. but now i have actual version of it
Love it! ArrrRRRrrRR!
I agree with all of your comments, I like buy your books, and when I like one band I buy the cd for sure.
Well, I have to say, you may one of the very few who would buy a CD if you like it. problem is, we now have a generation growing up who are told by their parents that music is free and copy whatever they want onto their ipods.
I am a musician, and i buy the music I listen to. why? Because I love it and I love the people who make it. Most of the music I buy is from small independant producers. And i have to say, there is a big diffeence between writing a book and recording music. Recording music takes a lot of time, a lot of equipement and endless expenses of mixing, mastering, packaging and so on, it is a very different world. And to share music live is a lengthy and very expensive process (don’t get me wrong, I love it and i wouldnt complain about it). The only thing I complain about is the idea I come across so much that music should be free, that it should be done for the love of it rather than for money, that music is somehow “higher” than money. Maybe so, but it is nice to have the money to buy an orange so you can eat after the gig or recording session.
There may be questionalbe practices in the corporate music industry, but the corporate music industry is only part of the industry, and those questionable practices exist in practically every industry, including the one that makes oranges.
But exchange between people on some level is very important. Someone put it recently in a way that I love and I have to paraphrase, but they said something like, to expect music to be free is the same ethos that has gotten us into a mess with the earth, that of just taking from it and giving nothing back. I can accept that there is a backlash against corporate profiteering and I agree with that myself; but the majority of musicians are people who do it cos they love doing it and they put enormous amount of time, love, soul searching and resources into producing something that moves you so, and they are only human.
For the record, I have had little involvement with the corporate music industry, i had plenty of chances to but declined becasue of morals and lifestyle. I play music for love (and spend most of my avaialble resources doing so) and life has been kind to me; i have always had good places to sleep and had enough food and good friends and wonderful expeeriences. And, like most musicians, it would be nice not to worry about rent and such “low” things. In london there are about 20,000 professional musicians. Only a handful of them earn over minimum wage (and that was before downloading became the norm). In Ireland, where I live, musicians have tax concessions as it is recognised that they tend to be oone of the lowest payed sectors of the community. And most musicians will do anything to make their music and find the money to get it out there and make it work and rarely get much payment back. Bless serendipity and the gods cos usually the listener don’t want to give much back.
Maybe it is the spirit of the age for everything that can be free to be free. And maybe it will be the spirit of the next age that in order for something to have a true sustainability, there must be an exchange and nourishment with that which you love
xAx
To Ailin, I too buy what I like after I have heard the free music. Stop for a minute and think about the group OK Go! …They certainly developed quite a following after putting their music videos on the internet for free. They too had a problem, from what I understand with their publisher or other some such entity they had a contract with… my have been uTube… not sure … but this entity wanted to stop their music being available for download or posting to social sites on the internet. As a result, OK Go! took a stance and said, basically, “Are you crazy! This is why and how we developed a following! Why we became famous! We are not changing. Our fans and the internet made us famous!” So they what they did was change venues so they would not be restricted, and let everyone know what had happened in case could not download the music from the “other entity.” At least that was the story last I knew… Ailin, this is also the case for so many up and coming artists who have become successful in the past few years. They normally would not have gotten exposure if they didn’t put their work “out there.” Or if they waited for some record company to “discover” them and promote them. The truth is, if your work is truely worthy — if it is good and people like it, then they will buy it–but they can’t know they like it and that they want to buy it until they have heard it, and usually they hear it because it has been shared with them, for free. I have bought most of the music in the past several years after listening to a new artists someone else has share with me via the internet (usually because a fb…) sometimes I buy old favorites after being reminded of them. So Ailin, if you have talent and a dream, then don’t give up. But don’t stick your head in the sand either. Look around you and see what is truely going on. How artist are “making it” today. Then practice well, never give less than give your best effort and be sure to distribute your music for free, so that word of mouth and sharing via internet social sites can provided you with unlimited free advertising — and you shouldn’t have have a problem with fans discovering and wanting to buying your music and continuing to share it with others so that others will buy as well. It’s called networking–and never forget, it’s all about the fans.
To some extent..it is that the musician is paid and the artist receives some monetary gift for sharing the beauty of the art that ALLOWS the artist and musician to continue to create art and music. I say this because as a writer myself..i find that whenever i have to feed my children and pay the bills, my art has no time and freedom to flow..for i have to spend time in employment among people who are corporate in nature. For this reason, maybe artists and musicians are best in jobs like teaching..where they are paid for what they share.
I have come to see that the artist/musician needs to create economic relevance in some small way in this world (even if it’s bartending or being a gardener..or waiting tables for a few hours a day..something that won’t kill their inspiration but is ‘useful’ to people who don’t listen to their music). This way they can receive funds to pay rent and put food on the table. And in it’s own way, the Universe is fair and creates balance and the artist whose music and art reaches far and wide to bless many will eventually be ‘sustained’ by monetary compensation enough for them to continue creating.
Exchange is important because it is the way we establish VALUE. And perhaps, it is also this that the artist/musician needs to see and feel when being paid..a sense of satisfaction that someone felt what they created was valuable enough that they were willing to ‘barter’ what they have for it. (Money is after all, a symbol of barter exchange..)
Ailin I wish you well and hope you continue to create beautiful music and are sustained as you do. And Master Coelho..i am so glad you share..i too buy your books because i want to part with something in exchange..to show i VALUE you and want you to continue being able to bless us all with your open heart and words ~
bLessing of Love and Light ~~ C.
Yo he leído todos sus libros y no “me queda ninguno” (miento, Valquirias todavía no lo presto/regalo, pero ya lo ofrecí). Todavía no me animo a leer por esta vía.
“El Alquimista” me lo regalaron hace muchos años, después fue compulsivamente buscando el siguiente y el siguiente, en la calle. Hasta que en “El Sahir” “me quemé”, a la copia le faltaban la antepenúltima y la penúltima página. Mi frustración fue muy grande.
Ahora solamente espero “El Aleph”.
Yo pinto y me he enterado que algunos artistas ya ni firman sus obras, debido a los “grandes maestros copiadores” que existen ahora.
Sería ridículo pensar que Perico de los Palotes copiara “El Alquimista” y lo firmara.
Si no puedes vencer atu enemigo, únete a él.
Hi…
Wow, you are so great. Since over ten years I read your books. I wan´t to eat them. ;) I take all of your words in my heart and it changed my live – every time, I read a book from you!!!(once, twice… )
I have heard, you have written 39 books. I have buy and read every book, who get out in germany… But that aren´t 39! Why??????????????? I want to read more books from you! Just all books!!!
Please transelate every book you ever written… I really buy and read them!!!!
***sorry, if my english isn´t good!!!***
Thank you for writing, and change so many lives(or souls) with your magical words!
I agree with this 100%. I recently bought my first copy of “The Valkyries” because of a post (part of it) on this blog. It was truly inspirational and that specific part spoke to many parts of my soul. I now own the book.
thank you Paolo, for thinking of us. Not every artist understands that in some countries it is hard to buy a book or CD, so we have to download them from internet. But, later we realise that we want something more and we ask our friends to bring “the hard copies”. Thank you again. You are wonderful.
I am an independent artist. I have thousands of ‘friends’ on my social network sites (reverb nation, myspace, Facebook, etc). I initially offered FREE downloads of my songs to increase my profile. People took them. And never bought my CDs. I have closets full of CDs. I am now thousands of dollars poorer. When I play at my LIVE shows I charge people for my CD. They gladly pay it. Why should my music be free online and for purchase in person?
Record labels may not be the ones suffering…it’s ‘artists’ like us.
Jaimie…it is human nature to have to connect emotionally with an artist before they will feel the desire to part with what they have, either to take what you have created that they value..OR to show they value you as a person.
Your shows sell CDS because during the show..people connect with you emotionally as you speak to them and they can see and hear you with their senses. On the internet..it takes FAR MORE to be able to connect with people emotionally..for the most part it is 2-dimensional. There is no real personal ‘touch’ and interaction on a heart and soul level just in a few encounters. People may download your music ‘to try it out for size’ and never come back.. UNLESS that one song they take somehow speaks to them in a very emotional way..usually being relevant to some emotional event they are facing at that time. It is very rare that anyone pays for a piece of art or music just because it is nice. ALways..purchase or payment of art is driven by how it will ‘feed’ them on an emotional level.
The fact that people are buying your CDS after your shows means your music is good and they are able to connect with you during a live performance. That’s great stuff happening there.. I tend to take what happens online as a feedback meter ..for fine-tuning my work and evolving. For i notice that the people who most value my work online are people i KNOW personally..relationships built over time from extended interactions online. They will pay for my work..because they value me..but those who just meet me the first time or just in passing encounter my work..will not pay though they certainly like it enough.
It is MARKETING that seems to be making all the difference in a modern world where people are bombarded by distractions..marketing specialises in pushing emotional buttons despite 2-dimensional mediums like papers and the internet. Most people only respond to emotional marketing..people have become so disconnected from their hearts on a daily level. It sounds to me like most artists/musicians on the net are suffering from a lack of knowing how to cut through the distractions that the common man is suffering from, cut through enough to touch their heart.
So Jamie..i hope you are not discouraged by what happens online..and I hope you sell many of those CDS in MORE Live shows (i hope you get more Live shows to play at).
Much Love and Light ~
I do not mean to be insulting…so I will avoid saying anything more. The unspoken may be louder than the spoken here, get it?
OMG i made the same of Hilal i read the book online first and then bought the book, and i am about to look for some more books so is true, and i am not rich, because to buy me a book i have to save for months and here in Nicaragua a Paulo Coelho’s book costs like 8 dolars
Dear Paulo,
I love your ideas about “sharing” and “open source” and how you explain it.
Your thoughts give me the power that I am on the right path.
Unconditional Love…
Laurens
I’m so thrilled that you’re addressing this, Paulo! I agree 100% and see it affecting the film industry greatly in the next decade. The film is the beauty and what it wraps (product placement, a place, a book, music, an organization) is the jar. That’s the future, my friend.
Well Paulo it’s very easy to find the odd example that piracy is good but it’s not just about you. The music business and movie business employ hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and it’s these people that are affected. For every hit album there’s 50 that do not sell and are written off as a loss – same with the movies – I’ve been in the music business all my working life and I just lost my job at 47 years old so you can quite understand when an educated pillock like yourself say’s paracy is ok. Piracy is theft whichever way you look at it
book publishing also employs dozens of thousand of people. And the industry may be complaining, BUT the books are selling more than ever (stats NY Times)
It my forecast that Mr. Coelho’s method will continue to work only so long as printed paper books are commonplace and dominant. As soon as e-book readers (like Kindle and Nook) become the dominant platform for reading books, then Mr. Coelho will not be able to give away for free electronic copies of his books. Mr. Coelho’s method has worked so far only because most consumers have continued to much prefer to have a printed paper copy of books such as Mr. Coelho’s. But e-readers have much improved and keep improving. Consumers in advanced countries are coming to prefer the experience and convenience of reading on a e-book reader. I would say that Mr. Coelho’s method will only work for one or two more years. Then Mr. Coelho, if he wants to make any more from his books, will have to stop his practice of giving away, for free, digital copies of this book over the Internet.
You should note the grateful dead, that encouraged there fans to bootleg the shows….in their time, they made insane money from touring alone. People wanted to experience the vibration of the music. It is beautiful that you stand up to and rise above conformity.
You are inspiring…I share your opinion, we must share and expand in order to grow.
Thank you Paulo. In my experience, the fear of pirating seems to have caused the big companies to go to many measures making legal purchasing of their product even more difficult than pirating, as though they are punishing the paying customer. What do they expect us to do?
I’m refering to video and music media more than text, but sometimes even text are more available through pirating than purchasing.
Examples:
1. I wanted to watch an HBO program and I missed the air time. I went to the website where I should be able to sign in with the paid account info (we have paid service!) but alas, after 1/2 hour, I gave up because the website sign-in page would not function correctly.. would have been easier to pirate the program and much less frustrating.
2. I find true inspiration in your books and I’ve bought many of them. I most recently purchased the Manual of the Warrior of Light and I wanted to share it with a friend. I wanted to buy it for him in his language, Portuguese, and mail it to him but I discovered that it is out of print em Portugues! Fortunately I found your page allowing me to send him an electronic version but I was sad not to be able to give him a real book (there is something special about books!). I will send him mine soon but his English may not be sufficient to understand.
So, thank you for allowing me to share your words with my friend, I was so very thankful to discover that you made it available when the bookstores (on and offline) did not.
you’re such a gift to this world, sir! you have done so much for me than you will ever know — i suppose many of your readers have the same sentiment. your tweets alone are pieces of your craft.
Wonderful! Beautiful and very noble gesture on your part! Moreover, as you know how it! Most cordially thank you again and again and again ….
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