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Should copies for review be DRM protected?
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DRM is a hot button issue. Some people think it is bad and others think it is great. It's certainly not a fool proof way to keep your book from being pirated, but it does keep the casual user from uploading it to a file share site (difference being the latter may not be aware that what they are doing is piracy). I personally don't distribute review copies at all in part because it makes it easier to pirate.
Now, using a site like NetGalley costs money, so you do need to keep that in mind as well, and keep in mind that not all distributors even allow DRM to be added.
If you make a copy for review DRM protected, they can't read it. So...you take your chances that this will not wind up on a pirate's site, but usually it doesn't
Thanks Christina and Morris. I just looked at Netgalley and my eyes watered at the prices! I was just thinking that it was standard practice to send out copies for review so that you had something to quote e.g. on inside page of the book or in writeup for it on Amazon etc., but you don't send out copies at all Christina?
I have sent dozens of copies out DRM-free. I have only seen my book offered on one pirated site, and when I threatened them with legal action, they took it down. I only have 20 reviews on my book after 2 1/2 years. It is hard to get reviews, so I would advised send free copies to reviewers. If you issue free copies in a Amazon giveaway, you will be greatly disappointed that this will mostly not result in reviews. Why? I never knew until I started downloading free books myself. I have downloaded over 30 free books this year, and have had the time to read and review only two. They're still on my Kindle, but when i will have the time, have no idea. And I review everything I read.
Pam wrote: "., but you don't send out copies at all Christina?"No, but I have a bunch of reasons why I don't. Piracy is only a small part. I don't believe reviews sell books, I prefer any reviews I do get to be organic, things like that. Plus, all of my ebooks are with Amazon, so I regularly give away free copies as it is.
OK thanks very much to you both for explaining that.
It's possible to get your book up on NetGalley for a fraction of the cost. Broad Universe, an international organization supporting and promoting works of speculative fiction by women writers, has a program where you can have your book posted to NetGalley for $45 a month (non-members). You can post as many books as you like, for as long as you like, and it doesn't have to be speculative fiction. My book is going up in December. Check it out http://broaduniverse.org/.
Thanks Roxanne, I've had a look and I might even join Broad Universe itself - looks useful for my genres.Good luck with your book!
I've read twice now, in an offline writing magazine, advice from a publisher's marketing manager that if you're going to make copies of your ebook available for review prior to publication, you should upload them to a site - they suggest NetGalley - for reviewers to download, which apparently applies DRM protection, rather than sending them out as pdfs or epubs etc, to protect them from being sent/sold on without permission when you don't know the people who are offering to review.
What do people think about this - is it paranoia or has anyone had an issue with this (I've seen the thread about the unfortunate author whose work was pirated and put up on Amazon by someone else, but I guess the person who did this managed to rip it somehow and it wasn't a reviewer who did this).