On Saturday, I received my annual royalty statement from the University of California Press, which re-issued In Defense of Anarchism in 1998, after Harper & Row let it go out of print. The total royalty listed was lower than in past years [UC Press has the odd habit of sending the statement and sending a check separately some while later], and I thought, "Hunh. Tailing off." Then the thought occurred to me, "Maybe it is available online somewhere." Sure enough, as I started to type "In Defense of" into Google, up popped "In Defense of Anarchism online." I clicked on the link, and there was the book, perfectly reproduced. It is listed as "published" by "ceros press department of republication on the high seas" and the title page reads "lovingly pilfered from the University of California Press."
Considering the title and subject matter of my little book, I think it would be bad form for me to take offense.
I will admit that I picked up a copy of A Critique of Pure Tolerance from my local used bookstore the other day. I felt only the smallest twinge of guilt at this act of blatant piracy.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell a lie. I'm very tempted to download this right now. Let's make a deal: If I download this, I'll donate money to the South African students via your Paypal button up top. Fair?
ReplyDeleteAlas, that PayPal button is no longer functional. But download away! I think when a book has been in print for 43 years, folks have a right to get it any way they can.
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