Authors: What to do about ebook ripped and shared?

[mckitterick]

So I happened to do a search on my book and discovered that the top results no longer link to my website (or Amazon or Powell's or Alibris or whatever) but instead to a wide variety of file-sharing networks.

Is this normal these days? Do I combat it by doing the same, offering my own free download on my website as an "official" way to get it free? Do I contact all the forum managers to remove such posts - or is that a Sisyphean effort? Or do I not try to combat it at all and learn to like it?

Huh!

EDIT: Or should I just take it as a compliment that someone liked it enough to share it? *sigh*

EDIT2: I've decided to fight fire with fire and just give it away electronically!

Thanks for any advice,
Chris

Comments

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

I think if you try to find all the places that are putting your work up without your permission, and attempt to get them to remove it, you're never going to have the time to write anything new.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid so. It's kind of flattering that someone worked so hard to create multiple file types from a ripped Kindle. Maybe they'll send me copies, too, so I don't have to make them for my own site ;-)