eBay Item Selling Librivox Stories

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ACToplasm
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Post by ACToplasm »

So I discovered that there are two listings for my Librivox readings listed for sale on eBay where someone has burned them onto a CD is and selling them. Here are the links:


http://cgi.ebay.com/H-G-Wells-7-Audiobooks-on-CD-Time-Machine-War-Games-_W0QQitemZ250275283923QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL080727115r17456


http://search-desc.ebay.es/telander_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQftsZ2

And I just wanted to know if there's anything I can do about it?

Thanks,

Alex.
PaulW
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Post by PaulW »

ACToplasm wrote:So I discovered that there are two listings for my Librivox readings listed for sale on eBay where someone has burned them onto a CD is and selling them. Here are the links:

...

And I just wanted to know if there's anything I can do about it?

Thanks,

Alex.
Nope. From the wiki:
The LV Wiki wrote:However They Wish?

What does "however they wish" mean, exactly? People may use our recordings to profit; they may remix them into other projects; they do not need to give credit to the individual reader/writer/creator or to LibriVox. Anyone may do all kinds of things with LibriVox recordings. Some we might "approve of," and other things we might prefer them not do - but Public Domain means that just about anyone can do what they like with the recordings. Here are some things that we know people have done with LibriVox recordings:
  • used the LibriVox recordings in YouTube videos
  • remixed LibriVox recordings into music, and sold the recordings
  • remixed LibriVox recordings into music, and gave the recordings away
  • used LibriVox recordings in art installations
  • made CDs of LibriVox books, and sold them on ebay (see here for discussions about LibriVox and Ebay)
  • used LibriVox recordings in non-commercial educational projects
  • used LibriVox recordings in commercial educational projects
Some other examples of things that might happen (but has not, to our knowledge happened):
  • CDs of Romance of Rubber sold as a fundraiser for a charity you don't like;
  • The summary of Frankenstein used to promote a major motion picture;
  • Fables for the Frivolous sampled into a violent rap song;
  • Origin of the Species as background atmosphere for a pornographic film
Although these examples are far-fetched, they are all acceptable uses of public domain materials. So be aware of what you are doing when you free your recordings, text and images into the public domain. You really have to let go!
Paul
[b]DPL: [url=http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12852]Brigands of the Moon[/url]; [url=http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13151]Brain Twister[/url][/b]
puffin1
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Post by puffin1 »

Because the recordings we make are public domain, anyone can do whatever they like with them, including sell them. It happens all the time.

Take a look at this thread:

http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3074

and you'll see that Hugh points out it is a service someone is providing. Librivox (so to speak) has no problem with that, and are happy when sellers are successful. It's all part of the gig.
[size=84][color=#483d8b][b]Is it weird in here, or is it just me? [/b][/color][/size]- [size=75][i]Steven Wright[/size][/i]
puffin1
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Post by puffin1 »

:oops: forgot about the wiki page :oops:
[size=84][color=#483d8b][b]Is it weird in here, or is it just me? [/b][/color][/size]- [size=75][i]Steven Wright[/size][/i]
Cori
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Post by Cori »

The only problem is when they don't sell, Alex. There's not much you can do about that, though. :( Unless people ask you where they can get a hardcopy of your recording, in which case it's an easy sell all round.
There's honestly no such thing as a stupid question -- but I'm afraid I can't rule out giving a stupid answer : : To Posterity and Beyond!
Starlite
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Post by Starlite »

They do put a copyright notice on it though. :? The only thing they can copyright is the compilation of course. Not the actual recordings.

Esther
"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable
people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress,
therefore, depends on unreasonable people." George Bernard Shaw
Steampunk
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Post by Steampunk »

ACToplasm wrote:So I discovered that there are two listings for my Librivox readings listed for sale on eBay

[snip]

And I just wanted to know if there's anything I can do about it?

Thanks,

Alex.
You could buy one... I did for one of mine. Sure, I have the files, but I liked the cover art.

Personally I think it's A Good Thing (tm) and it doesn't bother me even a little bit if someone is makiing a few (very few, I suspect) bucks off LV recordings. More power to 'em!
There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.
-- Gore Vidal
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AGSec
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Post by AGSec »

What irks me is how little they're selling me for!

:evil:
Graham
[url=http://librivox.org/newcatalog/people_public.php?peopleid=1868]My Librivox Recordings[/url]
chocoholic
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Post by chocoholic »

AGSec wrote:What irks me is how little they're selling me for!
OH -- just wait till you see the mp3 CD's -- they get the whole book on just one CD and sell it for like A DOLLAR. Somehow "free" seems less insulting. :lol:
Laurie Anne
Starlite
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Post by Starlite »

chocoholic wrote:
AGSec wrote:What irks me is how little they're selling me for!
Somehow "free" seems less insulting. :lol:
Hee hee I agree! I sometimes wish we could see exactly how many times I have sold but then.... do I really want to know? 8-)
"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable
people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress,
therefore, depends on unreasonable people." George Bernard Shaw
Steampunk
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Post by Steampunk »

chocoholic wrote: OH -- just wait till you see the mp3 CD's -- they get the whole book on just one CD and sell it for like A DOLLAR. Somehow "free" seems less insulting. :lol:
Yeah, but they get you on the shipping. :D

The way I've generally seen it work is the prices start high (relatively) and then slide down. Pure demand-driven pricing, I'm sure. I think the more well-known works tend to start higher and stay higher longer. Which only makes sense of course. Looks like this particular EBay seller starts most of his "amateur" stuff at about the $10.00 range, so ACToplasm's Wells opus is on the track with other LV works.

Anyway, pricing here seems more of a reflection of the popularity of the original author/title rather than the reader, so I wouldn't be too upset if I ended up in the bargain bin. :wink:

Jim
textus
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Post by textus »

why would anyone be upset about this? it just means one more listener for these great books :9:
Claire
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Post by Claire »

Well, here's a first -- we're being sold on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/shops/audiobook-delight

Unless I was the last one to know... :oops:
chocoholic
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Post by chocoholic »

Claire wrote:Well, here's a first -- we're being sold on Amazon
Wow, I almost choked at the prices until I realized it's 100 books for $90, so that's actually less than the Ebay ones (for anybody who really wants 100 books in one go). Well, I guess it was going to happen. They aren't being sold BY Amazon but by one of the third party sellers, so this is basically like the Ebay sales.
Laurie Anne
catchpenny
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Post by catchpenny »

Holy cow! $89.95 Dang. I don't see my recording. How insulting. I shall pedal it myself and retire on the proceeds.

Edit:
Wow, I almost choked at the prices until I realized it's 100 books for $90, so that's actually less than the Ebay ones (for anybody who really wants 100 books in one go). Well, I guess it was going to happen. They aren't being sold BY Amazon but by one of the third party sellers, so this is basically like the Ebay sales.
Oh. I will still have to work.
Anyone can read accurately. [i]I[/i] read with great expression.
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