Amazon Gets Ripped Off BY Pirates

[Rowena, Group Owner]

Oh, the horror.
How, you might wonder could Amazon's copyright be infringed?
And if it is, how come such a stomping big powerhouse isn't all over it?

Recently there has been a bit of a stir because Amazon claims to own the copyright of reviews posted on Amazon.

If that is the case, why does Amazon tolerate paid FILESONIC affiliates using Amazon-owned reviews to promote e-book piracy?

(Link to site redacted)

There is a site that has an ever growing list of collections of e-books, usually between 50 to 150 ebooks per collection.

They do their best to give everyone in the world these links, because they make 06 cents in commission from Filesonic every time someone illegally downloads an e-book by following their links.

If you knew where to look, and looked at the so-called "complimentary" e-books, you will see that each comes with a review snip. There is no attribution. However, if you then look at Amazon-owned reviews on the Amazon page selling that particular book, you will very soon locate the Amazon review that has been plagiarized.

Examples

THE BED OF ROSES REVIEW ON AMAZON

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time, October 29, 2009
By abouthappybooks dot com (Germany)

This review is from: Bed of Roses (The Bride Quartet, Book 2) (Paperback)
If you are looking for a classic romance with only a little bit of drama and lots of love, friendship and fun, then "Bed of Roses" will be a perfect choice.

Emmaline Grant's job is all about creating the perfect wedding day. As a florist and partner of "Vows" she is living her dream. She believes in love and hopes to someday have the kind of relationship her parents share. But she still hasn't found the one man with whom she wants to dance in the moonlight.
When suddenly the relationship to commitment shy architect Jack Cooke changes and they realize that there is more between them then just being good friends, Emma is excited but also a little bit afraid. She doesn't want to loose Jack as a friend but can't say no to the new path their relationship is going. Because she soon realizes that Jack has some flaws (he's a man so that's to be excepted) but that he also might be just perfect for her.

Wonderful characters, a beautiful story that concentrates on love and friendship and Nora Robert's love for details makes this the perfect book to forget everyday life.
Emma is a great heroine even though in real life it's hard not to hate a woman like her. She's beautiful, outgoing, intelligent, loves her life and job, has the best friends you can imagine and her parents are the perfect couple. But because she is also very kind and funny you just have to love her (I guess some envy is ok). Through the detailed description of her work (it's like the bouquets and arrangements are right in front of you) the reader can share the enthusiasm and love for her work and get's a close connection to Emma.
Jack is a man of action who's sexy and very manly. He enjoys his life as much as possible and works as hard as he plays. Commitment is not something he likes to think about because of the doubts his parents divorce left him with. So it's clear that in a relationship with Emma, who believes in love and marriage, there has to be some trouble (but thank god not too much).
His relationship with Emma is kind of sweet because even though they have been friends for years, as lovers there's a lot to learn and discover.
What I also enjoyed is how Jack and Del have to work through some issues because of Emma. Del is very protective of his girls and extremely sceptical about their guys and Jack is no exception. The scenes between Del and Jack add a lot to the book and make me also very excited to read more of Del.
The drama and confusion at the turning point of Emma's and Jack's relationship is just right and I love how the four friends (plus Carter) stick together to support Emma.
Carter has some awesome scenes (all I can say is playing poker with the guys) and the relationship between Mac and him is another highlight of the book.

So all in all I absolutly love "Bed of Roses" and can't wait for the next two books in the series.

Spoiler!!!
Especially because now it's clear that Laurel and Del and Parker and Mal will be starring in the next two books. Laurel has been my favourite so far and after reading the excerpt for "Savour the Moment" (coming April 2010) I can't wait to learn more about her and Del. Parker's and Mal's first meeting is so hilarious and makes me excited for book four "Happy ever after" (coming December 2010).


FROM "FREE" book mix 48
(link redacted)

Bed of Roses

Wonderful characters, a beautiful story that concentrates on love and friendship and Nora Robert's love for details makes this the perfect book to forget everyday life.
Emma is a great heroine even though in real life it's hard not to hate a woman like her. She's beautiful, outgoing, intelligent, loves her life and job, has the best friends you can imagine and her parents are the perfect couple. But because she is also very kind and funny you just have to love her (I guess some envy is ok). Through the detailed description of her work (it's like the bouquets and arrangements are right in front of you) the reader can share the enthusiasm and love for her work and get's a close connection to Emma.
Jack is a man of action who's sexy and very manly. He enjoys his life as much as possible and works as hard as he plays. Commitment is not something he likes to think about because of the doubts his parents divorce left him with. So it's clear that in a relationship with Emma, who believes in love and marriage, there has to be some trouble (but thank god not too much).
His relationship with Emma is kind of sweet because even though they have been friends for years, as lovers there's a lot to learn and discover.
What I also enjoyed is how Jack and Del have to work through some issues because of Emma. Del is very protective of his girls and extremely sceptical about their guys and Jack is no exception. The scenes between Del and Jack add a lot to the book and make me also very excited to read more of Del.
The drama and confusion at the turning point of Emma's and Jack's relationship is just right and I love how the four friends (plus Carter) stick together to support Emma.
Carter has some awesome scenes (all I can say is playing poker with the guys) and the relationship between Mac and him is another highlight of the book.

So all in all I absolutly love "Bed of Roses" and can't wait for the next two books in the series.

[Rowena, Group Owner]

I noticed that the same pirates had a Debbie Macomber giveaway day (and I notified Debbie's people).

The unattributed reviews they lifted (plagiarized) from Amazon were an especially interesting choice because one was a gentle rant against other Amazon reviews of the beloved book in question, and another was a romance-book-loving fireman's account of how his colleagues destroy his underwear when he shares his love of knitting romances.

One wonders why Amazon does not protect its reviewers!

...............quoting..............
1022 Evergreen Place

Harsh, harsh, and way harsh!!!

Obviously some of the reviewers of this book are very unhappy people. This book was not bad at all, not unlike all the other books in the series. I kept reading
and waiting for the horribleness that people complained of and it just wasn't there. One reviewer actually had a problem with the fact that a 20- or 30-something
year old actually wore a cardigan sweater with a rose pattern (horrors!!) PLEASE get over yourself. I am not that much older and I wear pretty cardigans all the
time. This is America - there is no fashion police outside of Hollywood.
And Debbie actually has some characters getting married before they have sex. (horrors again!!!)
The fact that Debbie is traditional and doesn't have every character sleeping with every man or woman who comes along is refreshing because our society has so
gotten away from that. Good for her!! If you are into the series, please read the book and don't be swayed by all the negativity.

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Back on Blossom Street

"Back on Blossom Street" continues the fine tradition of the first two books in the series, and we meet new, likeable characters who enter into the comforting world of Blossom Street and A Good Yarn seeking a good knit but finding so much more. Lydia has troubles of her own concerning her beloved niece and the possibility of never bearing children, and finds that what works for her students also works for her as she opens up to her class with her own problems.

At the firehouse I've often tried to initiate the kind of heart-felt, open discussions of problems and feelings that take place in A Good Yarn, but the guys just ignore me, tell me to stop acting like a "wuss", or string me up the flagpole by my underwear. Because of such callous and macho attitudes, I am always buying new underwear, as well as thanking Debbie Macomber that at any time I can pick up her book and find myself, dare I say it, back on Blossom Street.

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