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Is the "free copy" disclaimer in reviews necessary?
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Noah
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Apr 11, 2016 06:39AM
I have received a good amount of books on here to review, but I always try to buy them on Amazon if I can. I know how important the verified purchase is to authors so if I see a book set at 99 cents or a bit more, I see absolutely no reason not to snag that apple from the digital tree.
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I think it's great, personally. I followed Noah's lead in our reading group and started using KU for downloads as well. I will say, I don't think it registers as a 'verified purchaser' if you use the KU program as it technically 'borrows' the book. But, I do think it allows you to avoid tagging your review with 'i got a free copy for this review'. The 'free copy' statement does, for me at least, diminish the review's objectivity. I'm with you guys. Most SP/IP books are free on KU and I intend to download them that way.
Here's the link to the FTC about "Endorsements" and reviews:https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/busin...
It's really aimed at PAID reviewers and it's doubtful they're interested in someone getting a 99 cent book for free in exchange for a review. But you can be your own judge.
Personally I don't think we have much to worry about since the IRS can't stop scammers, the FAA can't stop drones, and the FCC can't stop spoofing or phishing. When the FTC stops all the telemarketers calling me despite being on their Do Not Call list then maybe I'll think about complying with this 'guideline'.
I fully support the sentiment we should, when possible, buy a review book in order to provide a fellow author a 'verified purchase' review. However, I would not support any move to make it mandatory. Let's keep it strictly optional as we should not be presuming anyone's budgetary limits.In addition, I don't understand this disclaimer thing. I will not include it in any of my reviews. What's the point? My review will be exactly the same whether the book is bought, borrowed, or gifted. I saw one review which prefaced the disclaimer with "In compliance with FCC regulation...", something or other. The FCC's making a disclaimer a regulatory requirement guarantees this author will NOT include one.
However, if another reviewer wants to include it, they have every right to. It's their review.
The Review Group rule is that you offer people a free copy. That said, when I'm taking part in a round as a writer rather than a mod, I also often download the book if it's not expensive, so the author can get that 'verified purchase' tag - it does help, I think.BTW, I agree with Ed. We are technically bound by the FTC rules if in the US (and if outside it, by site guidelines - which probably amount to the same thing). But these rules are really aimed at egregious cases. If you're doing honest reviews, you're probably fine.
Ed, I'm on the Do Not Call list too and I share your pain.
It certainly benefits the author to have a 'verified' purchase, but it is not essential. So if it is easy - and cost effective, no reason not go in that direction. I've been in this group for several years - and it is not expected. It is the responsibility of the author to get a review copy to the reviewer.By pure chance, for my current round, I had already downloaded the book by one of the author's I was assigned. Also by chance, I was running a freebie, so all my reviewers have a legitimate 'verified purchase.'
That said, those of us in the US are bound by FTC guidelines, so if you get a copy directly from the author, you should cite it was given as a 'free copy' in return for a review. I believe it is also a GoodReads requirement.
If you downloaded a 'freebie' from the Amazon or some other site, then it is the same as if it were purchased. Since Review Group is specifically structured to prevent reciprocity - they other type of 'gain' - I think we're in the clear not to cite 'gift from the author' in those circumstances.
But I'd like to hear from Emma or one of the other mods.
@Francis, you can always read the next one in line if the first one is AWOL for a while!As to the discussion at hand, Emma ('RG' head mod) did say that it was not mandatory in this group to put in the disclaimer, though it is a requirement on Amazon U.S.
It is a requirement in another review group (Indie Review Initiative).
To each his own, but ever since I sent 15 paperbacks to Amazon reviewers / bloggers / Independent institutions for review and did a giveaway on GR for I think 7 more (for my 2 books), I've made it a point to mention that I got a 'free pdf' - it's silly but some authors only have paperback links on Amazon and I don't want anyone to get the lucky impression that I got a free paperback!
Kindle doesn't work in Pakistan and even if it did, I would not buy an author's book. Genuine amazon customers already pick up my books, and hate it, find it bearable or like it - leaving 'verified purchase' reviews. Plus, I don't think 'verified purchase' tag is that important. Reviews and ratings are the real deal.
We are all free individuals and as I am not a US resident, I am not comfortable in making it a requirement to enforce US law on what is a world wide community of authors. I also agree that the regulations seem to be aimed at widespread fraud, not genuine peer review groups. One look at the smattering of one and two star reviews generated from the group will prove that this group is genuine and honest.There is debate that as goodreads is based in the US, that those regulations, in the broadest sense, apply to all reviews posted here.
I don't agree.
Some diehards will argue that being in a review round, as you are here because you intend to get reviews, amounts to 'paid reviews,' as you get a review as a payment.
I don't agree.
Thus, I leave it up to individual authors on this group to make up their own minds about whether to post disclaimers or not. We're all big boys and girls, and are from a tremendous variety of places, with different laws and regulations.
It is not within the scope of the group to research and enforce national regulations for the many different countries around the world that our authors call home.
Oh, I thought it was a mandatory thing to put the discaimer if you've not purchased the book. :-/ I feel mean now. (I'm a UK personage).I've seen posts on gr before highlighting the importance of said disclaimer.
I've reviewed over 100 books now, and it'd get really expensive if I paid for every one :-/
I personally feel the declaration shows integrity; I've received a book for free in exchange for an honest review (honest being the operative word).
Emma wrote: "Thus, I leave it up to individual authors on this group to make up their own minds about whether to post disclaimers or not...."Emma has spoken. It is up to us.
One other thought on the topic. When a lot of the 'rules' and 'regs' were developed - getting a free book was kind of a big deal. And still could be if it's a major publisher's release where the e-book price isn't a lot lower than the hardcover.
These days, indies price books at not much more than the price of a cup of coffee (if that) and free reads are everywhere. So it is hard to make a case that a free book in this context will unduly influence an opinion.
Just to clarify - it's NOT a Law, it's a Guideline and has no power of law. I don't know how these things get so blown out of proporation. Read it for yourself if interested:https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/busin...
This document itself states it has no power of law.
Ed wrote: "Just to clarify - it's NOT a Law, it's a Guideline and has no power of law. I don't know how these things get so blown out of proporation. Read it for yourself if interested:https://www.ftc.gov/t..."
Thanks for posting this Ed. Seems a lot of this hubbub is simple scaremongering.
In another thread it was pointed out that amazon does weight 'verified purchase reviews' more heavily than others. I checked it out. At least in my case it doesn't seem to make a huge difference. A flat average of stars * number of reviews comes out to 4.211 - Amazon posts 4.2. Of the 19 reviews for The Cartel: The Apprentice Volume 1 - 13 are 'verified' so it is possible with a different ratio of 'verified' to 'unverified' the results might be different.
Personally, I tend to include the 'free copy' disclaimer to explain the lack of a 'verified purchase' tag.
