# Self-publishing an e-book

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-publishing-an-e-book/510457>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 17, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-publishing-an-e-book/510457 "2009-09-17T15:50:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-publishing-an-e-book/510457/21 "2009-09-18T03:00:40Z")

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> [@KellyCriterion](#):
>
> and the only way they can “enforce” their copyright is to make it extremely annoying for the paying customers to access the content, and even in those instances they can still lose. I think accepting the inevitable p2p stuff just comes with the territory of being a publisher in the year 2009.

Look at it another way: if people like your book enough to go to the effort of making copies and giving them away to their friends, this is **just increasing** the likely audience for your next book! A word-of-mouth promotional campaign they are doing for you.

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**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-publishing-an-e-book/510457/22 "2009-09-18T14:36:58Z")

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Another thought, p2p wise, is to release and promote the book on the p2p network yourself! Share it on a torrent site, with a note that this is YOUR work, and if people like it, to please send a donation your way or link the sale site for the ebook so they have the option of rewarding you for your work. I know this has worked for some small bands, and people do like supporting something that they know comes directly from the artist - heck, some torrent site moderators may even give you a little front page promotion and back the idea of donating.

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