Let me speak up on behalf of the Ivory Tower, Capitalists, or old farts here, take your pick. I get paid (in theory) to write. In academia, we make nothing as our books and articles are read by dozens. Our reward, come salary time, is how many folks cite our works. Writing, or composing is hard work (ask Jay Bet). If people won't pay, I won't do it. Even the Youtube stuff will dry up as folks are just hoping to get noticed. You want stuff for free? You get what you pay for. Lets assume an author gets 15% of the gross, at $10 per 1,000 page novel, I'll have to sell twice as many as if they went for $20 hardcover. And who wants to read 1,000 pages on the PC? What happens when the website goes down, or the technology changes (yet again) and I have to buy and learn a new system? I am too damn old to fool with it. I want to buy and own a decent book, or at least check it out of a library (which pays a lot more than retail for the right to lend it out). I tend to reread stuff after a year or two has passed. Hell, I just got done reconquering the world for the UK and kicking Napolean's arse, with Patrick O'Brien for about the third time. I didn't have to download anything. Just open the damn books. Nations that safeguard intellectual property flourish as they nurture creativity. Those that don't make bargain basement knockoffs. See which gets you further long term. Screw this. Shortchange writers, muscians and inventors and you better like the world as it is now, as its not going to get any better. Rant over.
FQ13