And another thing…Google gets a class action suit filed against them for copying authors’ works…yet nothing gets done to Amazon for selling used books, which affords an author not one cent in royalties? Yes, of course there are used bookstores, book-swapping sites, even places like Ebay, where someone can buy an ARC of your book for a penny….which is another issue for another day…. but, in my opinion, Amazon is an animal of a different color.

The music industry has pushed hard for its artists, shutting down free download sites, like Napster, so those artists wouldn’t lose out on revenue. Wouldn’t you think a company the size of Amazon would figure out that it may not be wise to bite the hand that feeds it?

I’m not sure why I’m cynical that a company who would begin to scan in millions of books without permissions would be the entity to establish a Books Rights Registry and be the entity trustworthy enough to pay each and every author what they’re owed. hmmm. Not to mention the staggering volume of accounts payable that have already accrued–the simple volume of the paperwork alone will all but insure lengthy delays. (While that money earns interest–interest which will not be paid out to the author, but which will be kept by the Registry.)

Theoretically, sure, sounds fine. Realistically? I’ll believe it when I see payments made.