Ok, this idea is a little off the wall, but I'd like to run it up the flagpole to see who salutes:
What if Mongoose releases a "pre-Release" version of the new book in question on PDF, with the following requirements/benefits:
1. The pre-release PDF is done in a limited, numbered run (say run of 100), where each PDF file gets its own number coded into it.
2. People who sign up for the pre-release PDF sign various non-disclosure agreements, with the knowledge that if their copy gets circulated, Mongoose can tell whose copy it was originally by the numbers and bring legal action.
3. They also sign a document stating that they will report all errors they find in the PDF to Mongoose.
4. Charge FULL RETAIL PRICE for the pre-release version, but include a coupon for a 80% discount when they order the final book directly through Mongoose.
Here's my thinking:
This keeps those casual readers from buying the PDF, as they will end up paying 120% of the cover price by the time they are done. If they decide that the pre-release is good enough and they don't want the final printed version, that's fine because Mongoose still gets the full retail price for the PDF.
Even with an NDA some people might show thier copy to friends, but I think this would end up being more like free publicity than piracy. With individually numbered copies, you'd have to *really* trust someone to give them your copy, and if they were that trustworthy they'd not want a free copy, would they? The threat of legal action would be enough to stop nearly all casual sharing.
If you keep the timetable short, say a two-month pre-release period before you gather all input and send the updated (and hopefully more error-free) copy to the printers, then competitors won't have time to rip off game information and ideas before your print version is released.
I'm not in the publishing business, so I have no idea about whether or not this is feasable. But Mongoose already has the structure in place to distribute PDFs, and this could significantly reduce the amount of errors in their new releases.
Plus, wouldn't it be cool to be one of those people with a pre-release copy? talk about prestige in teh gaming community... 8)
Anyone have thoughts on this? especially those in the publishing community?
What if Mongoose releases a "pre-Release" version of the new book in question on PDF, with the following requirements/benefits:
1. The pre-release PDF is done in a limited, numbered run (say run of 100), where each PDF file gets its own number coded into it.
2. People who sign up for the pre-release PDF sign various non-disclosure agreements, with the knowledge that if their copy gets circulated, Mongoose can tell whose copy it was originally by the numbers and bring legal action.
3. They also sign a document stating that they will report all errors they find in the PDF to Mongoose.
4. Charge FULL RETAIL PRICE for the pre-release version, but include a coupon for a 80% discount when they order the final book directly through Mongoose.
Here's my thinking:
This keeps those casual readers from buying the PDF, as they will end up paying 120% of the cover price by the time they are done. If they decide that the pre-release is good enough and they don't want the final printed version, that's fine because Mongoose still gets the full retail price for the PDF.
Even with an NDA some people might show thier copy to friends, but I think this would end up being more like free publicity than piracy. With individually numbered copies, you'd have to *really* trust someone to give them your copy, and if they were that trustworthy they'd not want a free copy, would they? The threat of legal action would be enough to stop nearly all casual sharing.
If you keep the timetable short, say a two-month pre-release period before you gather all input and send the updated (and hopefully more error-free) copy to the printers, then competitors won't have time to rip off game information and ideas before your print version is released.
I'm not in the publishing business, so I have no idea about whether or not this is feasable. But Mongoose already has the structure in place to distribute PDFs, and this could significantly reduce the amount of errors in their new releases.
Plus, wouldn't it be cool to be one of those people with a pre-release copy? talk about prestige in teh gaming community... 8)
Anyone have thoughts on this? especially those in the publishing community?