IN THE former Soviet Union, in the late 1950s and 60s, many books that questioned the political system began to be circulated privately in mimeographed form. Their authors never earned a penny in royalties. On the contrary, they were persecuted, denounced in the official press, and sent into exile in the notorious Siberian gulags. Yet they continued to write.
Why? Because they needed to share what they were feeling. From the Gospels to political manifestos, literature has allowed ideas to travel and even to change the world.
I have nothing against people earning money from their books; that’s how I make my living.
But look at what’s happening now. Stop Online Piracy Act (S.O.P.A) may disrupt internet. This is a REAL DANGER, not only for Americans, but for all of us, as the law – if approved – will affect the whole planet.
And how do I feel about this?
As an author, I should be defending ‘intellectual property’, but I’m not.
Pirates of the world, unite and pirate everything I’ve ever written!
The good old days, when each idea had an owner, are gone forever.
First, because all anyone ever does is recycle the same four themes: a love story between two people, a love triangle, the struggle for power, and the story of a journey.
Second, because all writers want what they write to be read, whether in a newspaper, blog, pamphlet, or on a wall.
The more often we hear a song on the radio, the keener we are to buy the CD. It’s the same with literature.
The more people ‘pirate’ a book, the better. If they like the beginning, they’ll buy the whole book the next day, because there’s nothing more tiring than reading long screeds of text on a computer screen.
1. Some people will say: You’re rich enough to allow your books to be distributed for free.
That’s true. I am rich. But was it the desire to make money that drove me to write? No. My family and my teachers all said that there was no future in writing.
I started writing and I continue to write because it gives me pleasure and gives meaning to my existence. If money were the motive, I could have stopped writing ages ago and saved myself having to put up with invariably negative reviews.
2. The publishing industry will say: Artists can’t survive if they’re not paid.
In 1999, when I was first published in Russia ( with a print- run of 3,000), the country was suffering a severe paper shortage. By chance, I discovered a ‘ pirate’ edition of The Alchemist and posted it on my web page.
An year later, when the crisis was resolved, I sold 10,000 copies of the print edition.
By 2002, I had sold a million copies in Russia, and I have now sold over 12 million.
When I traveled across Russia by train, I met several people who told me that they had first discovered my work through the ‘ pirated’ edition I posted on my website. Nowadays, I run a ‘Pirate Coelho’ website, giving links to any books of mine that are available on P2P sites.
And my sales continue to grow — nearly 140 million copies world wide.
When you’ve eaten an orange, you have to go back to the shop to buy another. In that case, it makes sense to pay on the spot.
With an object of art, you’re not buying paper, ink, paintbrush, canvas or musical notes, but the idea born out of a combination of those products.
‘Pirating’ can act as an introduction to an artist’s work. If you like his or her idea, then you will want to have it in your house; a good idea doesn’t need protection.
The rest is either greed or ignorance
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This is beautiful… and an optimistic bend. I really am a big fan of you ever since I read The Alchemist… I know most of the beautiful expression from it as I read it sooo many times.
I am sure I will grow to my dreams and meet you one day… Maktub
Dear Paulo Coelho,
I totally agree, that literature – I would even go so far and say ANY form of art – is circulating freely, because it should not serve the industries but its universal purpose – to move people’s minds, bodies and spirits. And I will continue to buy hard copies/albums from the artists I want to support.
heartfelt regards and a gigantic Thank You for your insights
Matthias (Leipzig, Germany)
I could not agree more with Neil Young. I have always shared music and always will.
The problem is not sharing. The problem is the greed of Hollywood and the music industry.
Neil Young is right — piracy is the new radio
http://gigaom.com/2012/01/31/neil-young-is-right-piracy-is-the-new-radio/
You have a beautiful soul and deserve love and admiration from your fans. You are an inspiration to me.
We all have a life energy inside us wishing to express itself. Not all of us are fortunate enough for this to find conscious expression. If it does find conscious expression through us we should be grateful, and use this medium as a way to “create”, to “communicate freely” and to possibly influence others, it’s divine (or natural if your prefer) purpose might be to guide others so that they can do things to help our evolution. Receiving economic benefit from this gift is a secondary benefit. SOPA is driven by fear of economic loss. Piracy doesn’t prevent creativity, it might just minimise economic benefit, the creative process will still happen. Creativity constantly takes different forms. Piracy is a parasite, but parasites exist in nature and ultimately serve some purpose.
I igree at all you say, but the big production company will never allow “pirates” to destroy their “perfect world”. It’s a big and rich industry that use the artists as a reason to exist. (….. how can the artist survive if people pirate their works?…). As u said it’s no true. But mostly for the work of the artist these company get the biggest profit. And it’s not only about music (CD), movies (DVD), or stories (books), but it’s the same for every thing. The profit at first! Well, why not, but…. the human’s intelligence showed us already there are others ways to get the same result. Even much more better!!!
Thanks for your words and your works.
Cristiano
You’re one of a kind. In the world where all people are thinking are about sales and profit, you are promoting generosity and freedom. Everyday I thank God for people like you; beautiful people who inspire the good in each one. I first came across your book “The Valkries” for free when the previous tenant of my present apartment left hers. Eversince then, I’ve been an avid reader who’ve bought for myself copies of your published work from “The Pilgrimage” to “Aleph”. I would say it was destiny. Through the generosity of that person who left the book that others may partake of it’s treasure. Once again Thank you!
Simply a beautiful pice of writing regardin this awful law. Thanks Paulo, you certainly have a magic way of making people thing and have a concience. Blessings
Ten years ago, when Microsoft was still new to the Russian market, in a Russian web site I saw under the heading “Funny” a photo of a huge, multicolored Microsoft billboard advertising their newest Windows in Russian, attached neatly on an electric pole. As grandeur as the slogan prizing the product was the intellectual property anti-theft warning: “Stealing a purse or stealing software – two crimes punishable by law”. Bellow the billboard, glued on the pole, printed on a simple A4 with the biggest font possible to fit on the paper, was a serial number for the Windows advertised above. About five years ago the American government prosecuted some kids for downloading and sharing music files. Today the digital piracy is still vital as always and the US government incentives like S.O.P.A. are in the vicinity.
The technological progress makes it possible for the instantaneous creativity and innovation simply because of the instantaneous nature of the Internet. The information itself (copyrighted or not) is the biggest asset available to men today. The exchange of information on the Internet is becoming the main source of income for large industry hippopotamuses like RIAA and Google and for small Mom-and-Pop proprietorships alike so, naturally, it is going to be the main battlefield for resource distribution and re-distribution.
The Stop Online Piracy Act full title is “To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.” per Wikipedia. The major accent here is to “combating the theft of U.S. property”. This seams to be all about. The property of the United States of America is endangered.
The sad misconception at the top of the food chain is that information is like the oil, the gold or the corn. Whoever controls it – controls the physical world. Blame Guttenberg for inventing the printing press or blame Leonard Kleinrock’s, J.C.R. Licklider and Robert Taylor for their original idea of the network. The genie is out for good or for evil. The information (or the knowledge) is like the water in the toilet – once you flush it – is gone. But gone for you, not for the plumbing of your house, nor for the municipal plumbing or the fish in the lake where it ultimately ends up.
Innovative people (usually somewhere in Japan) collect such water, recycle it and reuse it. The waste is recycled too and turned into a fuel and used to power cities… Other places (usually in the US) start thinking about the waste in the drinking water when the taste is really unpleasant.
It is all about perspective. Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian educator, philosopher and scholar who is known for coining the expressions “the global village” and “the medium is the message”. He predicted the WWW almost thirty years before it was invented. The Internet is the medium and it is the message too.
Knowledge is from the Gods. Prometheus stole the fire from Zeus. Zeus then punished him for his crime by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. Both the names of Prometheus and of Zeus are equally known to the mankind.
I think that no one could possibly contain the message when it is out in the open not even the US Congress.
Let me say: congratulations! I have read some of your books and liked them.. But I think I prefer your insights as an author. Please keep promoting freedom!
Excelente pensamento, Paulo! Pessoas influentes, de bom senso, como tu, deveriam realmente expor mais vezes, sem vergonha de opinar contrariedades ao governo. Eles empregam o termo “pirataria” para que pessoas mais ignorantes – no bom sentido, se é que existe, rs – sentirem-se inibidas em usufruir do que está gratruito na rede. Várias pessoas com certeza baixam livros, quadrinhos, filmes etc, e depois sentem vontade de ter. Já li muitos quadrinhos e livros, mas nada melhor que ter eles em minha estante, é mágico! E nem por isso, a leitura, neste caso, já está satisfazendo o seu autor.
Irei compartilhar dois vídeos aqui, de outro autor preferido, Neil Gaiman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of6d3QLoJYA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3odgel4zU6s
Abraços.
Interessante você ter mencionado a Rússia. Muitos autores russos (Boris Akunin, Dmitry Glukhovsky, Victor Pelevin) também disponibilizam seus livros na íntegra para leitura em seus sites. E seus livros são best-sellers no mundo inteiro…
Parece que os escritores russos já sabem, há muito tempo, disso que você falou em seu texto.
Interesting thoughts.
I havent read any of your books, but i have a ebook reader and downloaded other authors books.
I usually download the pirated (or non pirated but DRM free edition), read a couple of chapters and, if i like it, I buy digital or paperwork edition.
This way i get to know authors whose work deserves it:
Downloaded Richard Dawkins “the blind watchmaker” and bought “The selfish gene” and “te blind watchmaker”
Downloaded and readed all George R. R. Martin “Song of ice and fire” books and, as soon as last book is officialy transalated into spanish I will buy all 5 books paperwork.
After im done with Carl Sagan’s ”El mundo y sus demonios” (dunno english title, sorry) I will try to buy it if I find it, because it deserves it.
Next title may be yours, Aleph.
Amén
Mr.Coehlo,
I’ve read some of your books and I liked some and disliked some others. However, to read your thoughts on SOPA gave me a new perspective of you as a person. You are truly a FREE MIND and that is what the world needs in these times of oppression and greed. I’ll definitely buy another book from you and give it to a person who has never heard of you before.Greetings from México.
I think most of the people saying that they only download illegally to “try before they buy” are just telling this to feel better. They may buy 2 or 3 cds/dvds/… a year but download 10 (or 100?) times that much and don’t pay for it afterwards (even if they liked it).
I use p2p and files-sites myself and have downloaded quite a lot movies and mp3s (in great quality). It didn’t cost me anything and I love it… Because without this possibility I wouldn’t have had the chance to listen to/watch such an amount of music/movies. I know, that’s not right and if everyone would be like me, there won’t be a lot of artists who can live from their work in the future. That’s a shame. But I try not to think about that when I hit the download button. At least I’m honest and admit that I’m as greedy as Universal/Sony/and so on are. If I can have something for free, I don’t pay for it. (And if I could download food or clothes or whatever for free, I would probably do that as well).
It’s the same thing with the environment: We know that we harm the nature by flying/eating meat/buying stuff from china etc but we try to ignore it.
Now back to the topic: SOPA won’t stop piracy, there are always ways to bypass the law. But the discussion about it makes us think about the value of art. That’s not too bad, isn’t it? And sooner or later we will recognize that the quality of art diminishs if nobody wants to pay for it.
So in my opinion not only the industry has to rethink (they shouldn’t punish all the internet users just because of a few “pirates” like me) but the society has to. We need more appreciation for the effort of the artists and can’t take it for granted that we get whatever/whenever we want, wherever we are for free. Starting with me. I won’t buy Paulo’s new book (sorry), but will think twice before downloading the next cd/dvd and concer to support the artist and pull out my credit card instead. Especially when I know that the support is really needed.
I found you via thepiratebay. I have not heard your name prior to today as some others but the fact that you support SOPA peaks my interest in the results of your craft.
I will probably torrent some of work to check it out but if I like it I will buy it as well as tell others.
You my friend need to share your wisdom with others and hopefully we will stop all the Anti Piracy laws that some politicians, corporation,s and interest groups are trying to pass.
I do have to say that if these bills are passed there will be severe opposition.
Dear Mr.Coelho
I have to admit I do not like your books, nor do I agree with your philosophy or your beliefs.
But I must say that with this, you earned my respect as a writer and as a person. Kudos to you, Mr. Alchemist.
Dear Mr. Coelho,
If I hadn’t already purchased so many of your books, I would be setting out to the bookstore today to buy at least one for myself. Perhaps, instead, I’ll buy a copy for someone I know, to pass your writing along.
All the best,
Linda
Great “Rabbit”!!! Raulzito is happy with you!
Thank you for this lovely article. I am a pirate myself, but I just use pirating as a test run to see if I like the product. If I do, I invariably go out and purchase a hard copy of it, so what you said in your article is true.
I will definitely check out your books!
The Brazilian forro band Falamansa only made fame through pirated tapes and CDs.
The media executives did not believe them until they forced the people!
Dear Paulo,
To let people read a few chapters of the book is very innovative and it gives you an appetite to want to read more. I had never seen that done before. First of all it involves you and there nothing more inciting than involving people..and it is a winner as soon as you tell them ‘I want you to participate ‘- it’s an invitation one cannot refuse – it makes you more interested.
So many people write these days because they have a need to express themselves, I also believe it has ‘meaning to your life’ otherwise you would not do it. It’s a vocation. It is something that everybody should do to bring some sort of a healing mechanism so what a better way to do it than in a written form. It is a projection of yourself and an indication of where you are at. It is also a your freedom of thinking and expressing yourself.
The comparison between ‘buying an orange and paying on the spot and with the object of art you are not buying the paper, brushes, etc but the idea that came up from the artist appealed to me – as the artist buy these and develop the idea with the tools that they have.
The thing about the book does not make too much sense to me.
For example you have a lot of people that go into an art gallery and they are drawing,- copying that piece of art – No one seems to be complaining about that, I view this as a learning process.
Also, something I noticed is that we might say the same thing as what the other person is saying as well. So where do you draw the line? and further more, when a baby start talking in life the way it is done is by imitating others. The baby just repeat things over and over until he/she gets it.
The people who visit the Art Gallery I feel are giving the best compliment to the artist and it should be the same with writers and singers, etc,. any form of other art.
It is an opportunity to better yourself.
With love
Marie-Christine
Amazing… rarely do i ever do anything but pirate with no commenting.. But i just had to Thank and Congratulate his position as a free mind and Supporter of free flow of ideas. He understands that Ideas are what make ppl better in life, it is essentially what has caused our rapid and incredible “development” from 100yrs ago..
I’ve read a few of his books and will now look to Purchase his work as option #1 before pirating it.
Btw, i came here via Piratebay.org.. And also wanted to say that i adore the fact that thepiratebay.org Crew is doing these promotionals and focuses on artists who support the website.
These artists’ fans will soon be ballooning because of this campaign and rightfully so..
thank you seeders
MITOU!!!
Man! You are a good writer. Am getting one of your book’s hard copy ASAP. Like you’ve said, a good idea doesn’t need protection. Holla
To be honest, i’v enever heard of your books, but now i feel the urge to read one :S You do really know what you’re talking about ;)
Great people have so much to offer. You’re a great inspiration Paolo.
Paulo,
My most sincere congratulations on your position! If only we could make the ones who wrtite for money go in that same direction…
Em todos esses dias de turbulência e opiniões sobre a SOPA está é a primeira matéria que leio com louvor… Parabéns mestre sábias palavras!!!
My fellow Countryman I see truth in your words. This is a serious issue and may still cause more harm than goodness if approved. I share your opinion about reading books on a computer screen, I for one, hate it. There’s nothing better than sitting under a tree or at the confort of your home and reading a book. By the way, I have a copy of Maktub, and The Devil and Mrs. Prynn at my modest bookcase. Books of wich I hold in great regard.
May the energies of the Cosmos lend you their power, for you to achieve all your goals.
In Chaos,
In Brazil people stopped buying Discs, but musics artists are becoming more and more famous, and making more and more shows (where they get the real money)
Great text Paulo Coelho. You couldn’t describe better our actually social state and the leak of knowledge about how to handle the information in this new era. Congratulations. As a game developer and, therefore, digital content creator, I agree completely with your thoughts.
Dear Paulo,
I do agree with your thoughts on SOPA about books and any other kind of ‘learning’ information. However, I think that SOPA should concentrates its efforts at the multimedia industry (movies, songs, etc).
Knowledge doesn’t have an owner :)
Kleber.
Awesome, Paulo Coelho. I never read you work, but now i want to. And if i like it, pretty sure that i’ll buy it.
Cannot leave the page without sharing it!
It was cool when I was downloading some mp3 songs and faced the Paulo Coelho Picture. You are right Paulo. When I first bought the Alchemist kindle edition I had already read some chapters from a downloaded pdf file!!! After that I bought “Diário de um mago” and now the printed version of Brida.
Parabéns Paulo
Parabéns, sr Paulo Coelho, sou sua fan a muito tempo e li todos os seus livros.
Com a sua tomada de posição o senhor mostra ao mundo a sua natureza pura e boa,, sem ganâncias, sem “posses” .AS boas idéias são sempre Universais,
E mais uma vez podemos apreciar como o senhor está integrado as novas concepções do terceiro milenio.
Me orgulho de ser brasileira também e somar com o senhor nos suas tomadas de posições.Abraços fraternais
Fully agree with Paulo’s perspective here, it’s evolutionary thinking at its best, thanks for waking us up
“Vai e grita ao mundo que você está certo
Você aprendeu tudo enquanto estava mudo
Agora é necessário gritar e cantar Rock
E demonstrar o teorema da vida
E os macetes do xadrez
Você tem as respostas das perguntas
Resolveu as equações que não sabia
E já não tem mais nada o que fazer a não ser
Verdades e verdades
Mais verdades e verdades para me dizer
A declarar”
Raul Seixas e Paulo Coelho
i downloaded a game (Skyrim) hacked to work without registration, after 5 days i bought the original one, even while the pirate version was working Ok, only because one thing,: the game creators deserved the money… (ps.: i downloaded The Alchemist… and bought the “real book” 1 week after)
Many years ago i pirated GTA3, i ended up buying most Rockstar titles i could see in stores, even when i knew my computer won’t run them. L.A. Noire is waiting patiently for my next pc, though i don’t know when i’ll buy it. Surely long after Max Payne 3.
You, sir, are the man.
From reading the alchemist i could tell you were a really positive, cool, down to earth person and this only confirms it. Everyone should check it out(stands up to the hype) really good fiction(and i don’t even normally like fiction) It’s so thoughtful and engaging you believe its a true story(or at least want to believe) being told in real time not like a biography of a dead person.
For those who have trouble reading for whatever reason(time,focus etc)
i recommend the audio version read by Jeremy Irons he did a heartfelt reading.
peace
Thank you for expressing simply and clearly what I have been trying to explain to my family. Its good to have a successful writer (whom they love) b/c god knows they won’t listen to me on the subject.
Hello Mr. Coelho,
I am a fan of yours. But, that isn’t the reason why I agree with your opinions. I know that there are going to have debates about this issue.
In anyway, my comment is not whether I agree or not, or what my point of views are on the said topic.
I am writing a comment because I would want you to know that with your opinions about SOPA, you just gave me the answers to the questions that have been lingering in my head about the bitter realities of life. I am happy that still, there is a person, who despite being famous, rich, and talented, still cares about goodness and goodwill of the world. A person who despise greediness.
I would want to tell you more about my inner insights about your opinion, but I am no good writer. I am bad in expressing how I feel. I won’t explain it anymore. Anyway, there are hundreds of comments here, and there might be little chance of you noticing this.
I felt your sincerity about what really matters in this issue, and I am happy you were not affected by the greed gratification everyone has been ranting and hoarding of in this world.
You deserve to be blessed, Mr. Coelho.
Paulo,
eu te respeito mais depois desse post. Gostei de vários livros seus, mas não entendi “a febre” que alguns leitores têm. Bom, faz muito tempo que eu não penso nisso e agora eu tenho mesmo uma visão diferente da literatura e da identificacão que as pessoas têm quando lêem. Você já tinha o meu respeito por ter conseguido tocar tanta gente. Só que esse era o respeito que eu tinha por você como autor. Depois desse post, eu te respeito como ser humano.
SOPA é mesmo uma palhacada (o site não está pegando cedilha :(( ). É muito bom ver uma pessoa conhecida, detententor de direitos intelectuais, é bom ver você falando contra. Obrigada.
Hello mister Coelho. I will admit i am not a fan of yours, although i have read some of your works i cannot say i relate to them in anyway, of course this is only my humble opinion an di really do not want to insult you in any way. But after reading this and the article Promo bay on your blog i’ve felt the need to show you my respects for acting like a REAL artist and like a man that understands how the world goes. Seing an artist [writer, musician, composer, painter whatever] enouraging people to download his or her works of the internet before buying it really shows the quality of one’s character, Congrats with all due respect M.Gh
You’re great!
What’s truly funny about the replies to this article -
The people talking trash about the words this man wrote, you more than likely got here through the link from Pirate Bay!
Man, you rock. Seriously awesome thoughts and a unique point of view on display here. Never read your work(my family has though), but just made a pledge to read all your books now!
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