Hi there, guy-who-I-won't-link-to-for-obvious-reasons,
I'm Wil Wheaton. I wrote Just A Geek, and I created the audiobook you're helping people steal. You may not know this, but I 'm just one guy, without a publisher, so when you help people steal this copy of Just A Geek by making it available for download, you're basically stealing directly from me. You're not stealing from some big publisher with deep pockets who is trying to rip you off with overpriced stuff; you are stealing directly from me, an indie artist and publisher who counts on every sale to make a living. I have to tell you, guy-who-I-won't-link-to-for-obvious-reasons, what you're doing sucks. It sucks a lot.
I worked hard on this audiobook. I invested almost 50 hours into the production, spread out over several weeks. I priced it under the average market price for audiobooks of its length, and I deliberately did not put DRM on it, because I don't believe in treating my customers like they are criminals. I mean, let's face it, guy-who-I-won't-link-to-for-obvious-reasons, DRM only punishes honest customers, because people like you, who steal from people like me, always find a way around it.
I notice that you have a nice big banner at the top of your webpage, imploring the people who are visiting your site to click on the ads you've put there, so you can keep the site running. I also see that you have a link for people to donate money to you. That's, um, that's rather ironic, isn't it? You are stealing from me and other authors, and then asking your fellow thieves to click on ads and give you donations, so you can make money from our work. Maybe it's just me, but that strikes me as what we would call "a real dick move."
I realize that I can't stop you from doing what you're doing. Even if I went through the hassle of filing DMCA takedown notices and filing complaints with the various authorities who handle this sort of thing, you'd just open up a new site somewhere else, and start all over again. But listen, guy-who-I-won't-link-to-for-obvious-reasons, maybe you don't realize that you're actually taking money right out of my pocket, and maybe you don't realize that what you're doing is no different than walking into a store, putting an audiobook under your jacket, and walking out with it. You're stealing from me, guy-who-I-won't-link-to-for-obvious-reasons, and I hope you'll read this, and stop.
I'd really appreciate it if you'd take these links down, and replace them with links to the place where people can purchase it from me, support my work, and ensure that I continue to release audiobooks without DRM or other annoying restrictions.
Thanks for listening,
Wil Wheaton
That’s just terrible to hear. To he who should be named and shamed you are F@#$#$% C@#$. FU.
Poor Wil, this must be like getting a group hug from a bunch of slightly nerdy Rottweilers… 😉
I too own Just a Geek in book form, but maybe the audio book will make a good gift for someone…..
You give us all so much free content Wil, a little support is not too much to ask for. Rock on.
Really looking forward to the release of Memories.
I submitted a Google Ad Violation report on your behalf… This dick needs to die a painful death… Anyone else who would like to file one as well can go here: https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/request.py?contact=violation_report
What I did: I twittered the guy’s website so that other indie producers can keep an eye on him for their work. I don’t care if he is in Malaysia. We can at least cost him his Google ad money.
Who is this chump? I know a guy who can solve these sorts of problems. As we say in Vegas, “There are a lot of holes in the desert…”
This is the world we live in today and isn’t it sad?! I am just so sorry about this Wil! This guy must be one who has no emotion inside. I have 2 copies of just a geek that I bought from you and proudly display them at home! Back in the summer my house was broken into and a lot of my things were stolen. I was very relieved to find your books were still there. You even signed one for me and if I had lost that one I would have been VERY upset. As a long time fan of yours, I respect all of your hard work in the acting and writing field. I can’t wait for your new book!!! I hope I am lucky enough to meet you one day so I can shake your hand and tell you thank you for inspiring me to write. I hope this guy gets what he deserves. The best to you Wil:)
Speaking of content featuring Wil available online for free – I tossed you an email at the last address I had for you Wil, but I’m not sure if its still in use.
The master of your Pitch Your Game panel ended up having a few bad frames so it was made available for free online.
http://digg.com/gaming_news/PAX_2009_Pitch_Your_Game_Panel_Original_Master
Figured it might make your day a little better. Hope you manage to appeal to the pirates sensabilities.
It means the world to me that you’ve got my back, Doc.
Oh man. This panel was so much fun, and was so funny … I can’t wait to watch this.
Presently, I’m putting together a video (DVD) about auditioning – for actors. Planning to release it myself and also put it up for purchase to download on my website. I asked my internet guru today about this very thing – security….”won’t people steal it off my website”?
He said yes, and it’ll help spread the word.
I said, “no, it’ll take food out of my mouth”.
Loved your article Wil. Please do whatever you have to do (thru the legal system) to hopefully make this guy take it down! I’ll be following your pursuit.
Yes, and this makes me want to buy your book too!! Done and done!!
I’m just taking my first steps into the realm of publishing, and the piracy issue is almost enough to make me throw in the towel before I start. Almost.
Gene Simmons stated it best when he said pirates would “all be sorry” one day, but not for the reasons the pirates think.
If you can’t make a good living creating art, books, music, software, etc., who will spend time, money, and effort creating it when they can do something else that’ll pay the bills?
Slowly, inevitably, the quality and quantity of every new generation of art created in pirateable media will seem diminished in comparision to the one before it.
I am totally buying 5 copies of your book just because of the classiness (and sassiness) of this letter.
Hope everything works out.
(Continued from Last)
If the pirates don’t stop, eventually thier right to “Free access to Knowledge & Culture” will be realized, but unfortunately for them, the culture that’s left won’t be worth the 20 seconds it took to download it.
I’m so sorry Wil – everyone has the right to feel their work is being respected and to get compensation for that work.
But…I really think this whole thing will be a net positive for you. You’re getting lots of people in the comments alone buying your audiobook as a response to this guy. And in all honesty, the people downloading the book from this guy are exactly the people who would NEVER have bought the audiobook anyway, even if this guy didn’t put it up for free. So I doubt you’re losing much revune, if any at all. In fact, I bet one or two people who download the audiobook illegally end up buying a physical copy of the book to boot, so you end up ahead.
My philosophy is always try to turn negatives into positives, so I apologize if I’m overly optimistic. 🙂
What’s needed is a new economic model. Just as you could publish a print book on the web now, in an html format, and put Adsense all over it together with other ads so you make money from it like that, there needs to be an audio equivalent. The old economic model, (I’ll do this if you’ll pay me so much in return), simply doesn’t work any more. There’s a strong case now for putting the creative on a basic State/national/local-area funded income so they can do their creative thing as opposed to digging dirt, and have them pay a flat tax rate on any subsequent earnings.
BB
Kevin asks,”If you can’t make a good living creating art, books, music, software, etc., who will spend time, money, and effort creating it when they can do something else that’ll pay the bills?”
The answer is, those who are driven to do so. So long as we have dystopian societies, we’ll have fucked-up folks, and a good few of them will be driven to create for its own sake. It’s a way of trying to externalise their inner pain, it’s exorcism really.
BB
This blows. You are being nicer about this than I would. Maybe in the end I would show the restraint you have, but in my mind the words would not be so eloquent. Who am I kidding. I would have given them a huge what for on my personal blog that wouldn’t be so nice. It would still be nicer than my thoughts though.
You know, I am actually teary over this. It really pisses me off to no end that you and others like you make so much available to share through Creative Commons, to allow fans to get access when you could charge and easily get a pretty penny for everything you produce. But you don’t. And then someone goes around and does a beyond douchey thing like this. Shane and I came up with a name for people like these. But I am going to not repeat it here even so you have been known to drop your own F bombs.
I recently had my own experience (actually 2) where it made me seriously second guess for a few moments (read days) whether or not I make certain content available any more since people as a general rule have this huge sense of retarded entitlement and no matter what you do, it is never enough. I don’t want to fall into being a dancing monkey. But then after talking with some really close friends and people who appreciate what I do, I decided to not let the douches win and push on because I enjoy it and strangely enough so do others.
This really fucking blows and I feel so sad and upset this has happened to you. Especially because you go above and beyond to make things accessible and then someone decides to come into your house and shit in your kitchen sink to say thank you. (Honestly I am so censoring myself here).
I want to kill douche with fire.
Points for style, Wil, but I agree with the rest of the mob who think you should lay the smackdown on this maggot, even if it means he’ll just crawl under a different rock. It’s the principle of the thing. Hey, any law-talking types out there in the mob who want to take on Wil’s cause pro bono and draft a simple cease and desist, and make this guy sweat a little? Since we can’t advocate finding him, dragging him bodily from his house and beating him with aluminum bats until he can’t remember his own phone number, I guess we’ll just have to do it the civilized way. Unless we don’t…then I’m totally down for the first annual Wil Wheaton Pummel-A-Maggot-With-An-Aluminum-Baseball-Bat Invitational Charity Rodeo. Barbecue will be served.
Wil, I have a few questions for you regarding this whole scenario. Your podcasts are licensed CC-BY-NC. Why isn’t the book? Do you not believe in the principles of free culture media sharing? If not, why use it at all? Just curious. I know you frequently respond to comments, and I thought I might get a chance to pick your brain on the subject. Here’s hoping you’ll respond to this one.
If I recall correctly, does not paypal charge a transaction fee? Is it possible to donate a penny? And if you did, would you actually cost this fellow money?
Just curious, although frankly I would never use my paypal account on a pirate site for security reasons.
Sorry Wil this guy is a jerk!
Hopefully this ‘publicity’ will offset any loss. I enjoy your books and look forward to reading The Happiest Days of Our Lives.
I think “guy-who-I-won’t-link-to-for-obvious-reasons” just got owned.
Wil,
As your production and fulfillment partner on this book, I’ve been overwhelmed with orders from people and the servers are not able to keep up. I’d ask those of you who have ordered (and will be ordering) to be patient – Wil and I thank you for that.
I was sickened at what I saw at the site. You’re dealing with someone who actually could not care less about your plea – his site name alone and the way he approaches what he’s doing screams fucktard asshole. And he’s probably reveling in all the attention this is generating. I guarantee you he is immune to appeal. But he can’t make money if he can’t get paid by Google.
I’m sure you also know that between us, we both have more than a few friends at the Googleplex, and mine have been informed of the site.
David H. Lawrence XVII
So, I’m gonna go ahead and break the golden rule for a minuet and be kind-of a dick. If I’m reading Mr. Lawrence’s comments correctly then this is actually a good thing. If we consider that most of the people who will download this book for free would most likely have never paid for it at all (seeing as those of us who respect Wil and his work enough to really want this book probably respect him and his work enough to buy it) it’s not like he lost money on that side in the first place, or not loads of it.
Secondly due to the savvy of Mr. Wheaton himself this whole “fiasco” has lead to increased sales of the product from those of us who were probably gonna buy it in the first place and even those who are now buying out of sympathy and solidarity.
So far, I very little downside to what has happened, thanks of course to the crisis management (and if i really wanted to be a dick “marketing technique”) of Mr. Wheaton.
Although being a musician I totally relate to your feelings, I do think that you are getting it wrong:
“Stealing”. This is most definitely NOT stealing: stealing involves taking something from someone. Now, you might argue that free distribution of your audiobook is reducing your sales. Maybe, or maybe not. In any case that person is most definitely NOT removing any of your property, so this is not stealing.
Loosing money. You are arguing that free downloads from his site equate to lost money on your site. This is probably incorrect: first of all, if someone really likes your work — so to say, the top 10% of your fans — they are going to buy the audiobook anyways. Secondly, a very large part of people who download for free, would not have bought your audiobook anyways. Thirdly, audiobook users are way more likely to buy a hardcopy version of the book, so increasing the downloads of the audiobook will boost your sales.
Value of the audiobook. Although you spent 50 hours recording the audiobook, each additional copy costs nothing. When the costs of producing the audio are split over enough copies, they become negligible. So I really don’t understand your point here, are you saying that you are not recouping the investment because of him? I frankly doubt that.
Although my comment could sound strident, I do feel for you. But this is the world we live in, and quite frankly I think we have to go with the stream. See Cory Doctorow for an example of a successful writer who gives away everything for free, except the hard copies.
Before I get flamed out of existence I just wanted to make clear that I do think Guy-who-Wil-won’t-link-to-for-obvious-reasons’ is certainly a total douchenuget, and should be punished for violating the rights and work of our man Wil. But I thought I’d just play the devil’s advocate/dick and look at the other side.
I read this and was instantly enraged, to the point of nearly buying your ebook out of spite.
But then I realized the thing being shared was nearly four years ago, which practically is public domain on the internet. If it took that long for any digital thing to be uploaded then the author should either; A) Be happy -one- person bought their product after four years. Or, B) Be elated that it took their fanbase to stab them in the back by sharing it illegally. Have you ever heard of World of Goo?
Either way, it’s a good thing people are bothering to steal something this old on the internet.
Better yet, this (unwarranted) six paragraph whine has probably given the ebook better marketing then it’s ever seen before. Mazel Tov.
This is why so many of us admire you. You’re a mensch.
Wil, I highly agree with everyone else who said you should report him. And they’re right about Google, and maybe Paypal too. Don’t let this guy keep being such a dick!!!
And just so you know, I bought the Happiest Days audiobook 2 days ago, along with a lettered edition of the book. I sincerely hope that that helps with the sting of this guy’s douche-move, just a little bit. And know that I will hopefully try to plan my next (well first, really, since I’ve only lived here 3 mos so far) visit to the States around some appearance you make, so that I can have you sign my book (well, plus the rest of the books because that’d just be really kool ;P) face-to-face. We love you Wil, you’re awesome, don’t let this dick/douche get you down too much!!
I’m not a violent man, but a cock-punch is in order.
Wil,
Although you’re absolutely right to be aggrieved with what this individual is doing, he’s not stealing. What he’s actually done is duplicate your work and distribute it. Both steps are illegal, but neither are theft. It’s actually possible he paid you for the copy he’s illegally distributing (however unlikely), as it had to come from somewhere.
I hope the individual realises the error of his ways and I hope you come to an understanding that duplication and distribution of someone else’s work is not theft, but it is just as illegal.
Wes
I think I might be one of the last people to report the ad-click-begging and copyright infringement to Google. By the time I’d filled out Google’s violation form the ad banner was already gone. Nicely done, all who reported it!
You’re kind of skating in a gray area, don’t you think? Bottom line: Wil wrote the book, which makes it his intellectual property. Anyone who isn’t a complete douchebag would respect that and not pirate and distribute the man’s hard work without his permission.
What it ultimately comes down to is that Wil self-published this audiobook, and the guy who is distributing it on his site has the unmitigated gall to request donations for HIMSELF for hosting the files and Wil’s not seeing one red cent of the money that this guy is making. I’m sorry, but that’s just wrong on so many different levels. We’re talking about somebody’s time, effort and talent being exploited by some asshole trying to make a quick buck for himself.
The most ludicrous thing about all of it is the fact that Wil is very accommodating to his fans as far as Creative Commons Licensing is concerned, so you would think that this idiot would take that into consideration before deciding to rip him off for what little money that he does get out of the entertainment he provides for all of us.
You’re definitely a nicer person than me, Wil. If I knew who this guy was, I’d kick his thieving ass. Crap, if it were up to me, I’d round up all the Wil Wheaton monkeys and drag his ass to Pasadena and literally make him grovel in your presence and apologize profusely to you. There are other things I’d like to do to him on top of that but I won’t mention any of that in mixed company. Needless to say, it wouldn’t be pretty. I don’t like it very much when people take advantage of Wil because of how much of a stand-up guy he is. Plus there’s my whole “Nobody’s Allowed to Screw with Wil on a Personal Level” rule.
I hope Karma takes a serious bite out of this guy in the worst possible way imaginable.
Sorry Wil, that guy is Evil Wil from another dimension. I can tell because of the goatee.
Will, I hope the guy reads your well written request. My sympathies to you over this. Out of curiosity, though, did you pay any royalties to Jive Ass Sleepers?
Ahhhh Wil, I’m listening to Happiest Days right now (paused at the moment, 3 mins in to blue light special) and I LOVE IT, dude listening to you tell the butterfly one and hearing the (what I could tell before he asked) genuine emotion in your voice made me want to cry!!
Is Just A Geek recorded in the same fashion? I had abstained from getting it because I got the paper version and decided that, since I’m not a millionaire (not even close! lmao), not getting to hear you read it yourself was acceptable, since I did read (and LOVE) it. But, hearing you tell these is really wonderful, and if Just A Geek was done in the same manner, I might just have to splurge and get that one, too…
I’m a writer and musician myself and I tend to feel that there is no theft of digital content in the modern world. All digital content is effectively free and any money made is really a donation. My viewpoint stems from the excessively large number of people who are ok with ‘stealing’ digital content, but who very often pay for physical and digital versions of it at a later date. I’m not saying this is right, it’s just the way it is.
All the same, my personal feelings don’t really align with that unless the author uses some kind of Creative Commons license (which you yourself do at times, and that is super cool).
I don’t want you to sour to your use of Creative Commons licenses. I realise this work wasn’t released under such a license, but I’ve always admired the way you’ve released your work in general (no DRM and such). I was introduced to your work because of Sunken Treasure being given to me by a friend (as the license permits). Due to my enjoyment of it, I have now purchased several of your books.
It’s terrible that we all have to face these situations, but hopefully there are enough people who see that supporting artists is the only way to keep art going.
I just have to add my voice to the chorus of supporters. The backbone of the “pirate society” has always been jackasses, but at least when it’s downloading the latest televised episode for a show that won’t reach your country for 5-6 months, I can understand why it is done (especially since it’s not possible to purchase these episodes legally in most countries until the DVD release 😛 ).
However, there is no possible valid excuse to rip off an independent artist, especially one who treats his fans with such respect and consideration that you (Wil Wheaton) do. And also… how is it possible to obtain the “first copy” in the pirate chain without being familiar with your kind of artistry? So even if this person don’t know the situation, it only means he got it from someone who did, and can’t be arsed to figure it out (although several posters have made good arguments that he is probably just a dick).
I just want to end my comment with thanking Wil for being a really cool geek and for all the cool stuff he produces, both the free stuff (this blog, memories of the futurecast etc) and the stuff he sells (I already have Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek in book format, the collection wil grow) (haha, I made a funny 😛 (or not)). It’s guys like you that give me hope for the future of the “entertainment industry”. If enough artists choose your path (and enough of us consumers choose not to be dicks), perhaps the big corporations will finally see the value of not being dicks themselves.
On the plus side:
(1) You probably won’t have lost too many sales. Every comment on Mr Please-cock-punch-me’s website was telling him to take the links down. Just one was saying it was too expensive so he downloaded it, so that asswipe wasn’t a sale either.
(2) If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that Karma is a bitch with a long term memory.
(3) The latest comment seems to promise some sort of unholy retribution. While it’s easy to be mr.threatening on the internet while living in a parents basement, I’ve seen stories on the news about the guys on 4chan.org. They’re savage and fearless. They’ve even taken on Scientology and lived to tell the tale. Something tells me Karma may be going after this guy like a jilted loan shark.
I’m sorry to hear that. That’s awful. Too bad you can’t let the address slip to someone who knows how to do Denial of Service attacks…I know two wrongs don’t make a right, but…it would sure feel good.
Wil – Relax.
This guy isn’t stealing a penny from you. You have one of the most loyal fan bases out there. The people who pirate your content are not fans. they would not pay for your work in any case. Your fans support you and will continue to support you. That’s what we do.
I know the fear of seeing your hard work floating free out there on the webs for any Tom, Dick or Dick to pick up and take home, but your fans are not Dicks. Relax. Have faith. We got your back.
Sorry to hear this is happening. I guess he figures you must have lots of money and can afford the loss, since you’ve had a career in television. Maybe, he doesn’t realize that you don’t and you have a family to support, now.
Hey Wil,
Just to let you know that I passed on that site to my best friend who’s high up in the Google AdSense programme so I suspect he’ll do something to punish the site. Just ain’t right what he’s done to you.
Simon
It worked for Neil Gaiman, too. The Graveyard Book is available FREE on the internet and has still been on the bestseller list for over a year.
I admit to “borrowing” digital media, with the intent to buy if I like it. But it’s a tough call, since a lot of what I download is books (and it’s REALLY hard to justify paying MORE for something I’ll read once and delete than for a paperback) and music that I’ve owned on CD or cassette at some point and lost. But seeing it directly effect someone like it does Wil makes me think twice.
Wil, I love you, but your last sentence is rubbing me a little bit the wrong way. “…and ensure that I continue to release audiobooks without DRM or other annoying restrictions.”
I understand that you release your audiobooks without DRM because you don’t want to be a dick – and believe me I appreciate that – but you also claim that you don’t do it because DRM simply doesn’t work to actually prevent piracy. You say right there in the post, “DRM only punishes honest customers, because people like you, who steal from people like me, always find a way around it.”
If you really believe this, implicitly threatening to start using that junk if people continue to pirate your work doesn’t make any sense. I don’t want anybody to steal your stuff any more than you do (well, obviously I’m less invested in it than you, but still), but saying “if X doesn’t happen, I’ll be forced to do Y” seems off when you’ve already stated that Y is ineffective and more harmful than beneficial to everyone.
Please don’t get me wrong, you were right to call this guy out and to do it the way you did. I hope he reads it, repents, and starts buying your stuff. 🙂 I just don’t want to see you become one of the many content creators who take the “Hey, I HAD to start slapping a bunch of DRM stuff on my work, I had no choice!” route and end up losing some of your legitimate customers in the process, especially since you seem to already know that’s what would happen.
Now maybe I have it totally wrong and you just meant to say “…and ensure that I continue to release audiobooks”, period full stop, and it just so happens that those audiobooks – being Wil Wheaton audiobooks – will of course be free of DRM or other annoying restrictions. In that case, nothing to see here, move along. 😉
Hmm, Clicking on his links, I see that he had links to movies.
Movies that are/were owned by Colombia and Paramount.
IIRC, those folks are pretty tight with their IP, and the defense thereof, Maybe someone should let them know…
I just wanted to chime in and mention that as long as you keep making good quality, DRM-free stuff and pricing it fairly, I will keep buying it.
Just A Geek worked out to a few cents per minute and I enjoyed all those minutes (and the commentary afterward) immensely. What else can you buy for that much money that keeps you entertained for NINE HOURS?! It is obvious that a lot of effort and pride went into both writing and recording Just A Geek. It was worth every cent.
Also, thanks for having the stones to release your stuff in DRM-free formats. I realize it makes it marginally easier for people like guy-who-i-won’t-link-to-for-obvious-reasons to share it, but those of us who buy your work greatly appreciate it being ours once we’ve bought it.
I actually ended up buying 2 copies of the audio book – the first download I inadvertently lost when my hard drive crashed, so I ended up purchasing copy #2. I won’t repeat my sentiments as many of the posters above me have already said it. Get em Wil!