[Sussex] [Fwd: [Surrey] Linux Format free to download for 24 hours only]

Wed Mar 4 16:11:03 UTC 2009

Hi Steve,

> I wrote to the editor asking for permission to re-distribute.  I know
> someone who is on the verge of installing Linux and having a mag to help
> him learn may be all he needs.  Got permission too.

They say: 

"However clearly without any DRM there's nothing stopping you from
giving them to everyone, torrenting them, printing them, selling them,
whatever. 
We'd rather everyone obtained the PDFs directly from us, but
we can't stop you redistributing them for eternity. 
If someone does
decide to put the whole thing on The Pirate Bay in 48 hours, I doubt
we'd be particularly upset! ;)"

Seems to me that they are not too bothered if anyone distributes it, which is a good thing. 
Nothing like a bit of (almost) free advertising, especially as it's powered by Torrent users and webspace volunteers.. good thinking on their part I think.

I have a drawer full of LXF issues that I have collected over the years, and I have to be honest it's almost a 2-man effort to open the drawer too. However, I am not a subscriber of the magazine anymore, mainly because I can find most of the details of the magazine by reading the posts in the LXF Forums but I would happily have a free PDF if only they'd do that more often.

I think I'd even pay a small amount for the PDF too rather than the paper version that fills much space.

Craig

________________________________
From: Steve Dobson <steve.dobson at syscall.org.uk>
To: Sussex LUG <sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, 4 March, 2009 3:22:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Sussex] [Fwd: [Surrey] Linux Format free to download for 24 hours only]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hi Graig

CRAIG PEACOCK wrote:
> They also claim that they may never do this again.

Surely if this is an experiment on their part then they have a right not
to repeat it.

> Their magazine uptake rose by 13-16% or something near there
> last year while many other magazines were dropping off their perches.

I thing this is a result of Linux gain in the market place.

> It's their gift to say thanks I believe. 
> 
> I know I read that someone on that page but I can't find it again
> to clarify the exact numbers.

Well me with my cynical hat on sees it more as an way of advertising
their magazine.  Not that I think there is anything wrong with that.  I
wrote to the editor asking for permission to re-distribute.  I know
someone who is on the verge of installing Linux and having a mag to help
him learn may be all he needs.  Got permission too.

My email and Paul's response is below.

Steve

Paul Hudson wrote:
> Knock yourself out.
>
> That's a "yes" ;)
>
> --
>
>
> On 4/3/09 11:57 am, "Steve Dobson" <steve.dobson at syscall.org.uk>
> wrote:
>
> Paul
>
> First may I say that I think the offering LXF for free is a great
> idea,  I hope it works well for you.  I have already e-mailed the
> announcement on to some of my friends.
>
> As a long time Linux (and before that Unix) hacker I will admit that I
> am not a regular reader of your magazine, and that is unlikely to
> change.  I spend so much time on-line that I have little time for
> reading anything printed these days.
>
> However I do like doing a little Linux advocacy and being able to pass
> on your free issue (by USB or CD for example) may help me in that
> regard.  Showing them that there are quality mags that can help
> explain things may help them switch to Linux.
>
> I am therefore requesting permission to re-distribute the ZIP file
> I've just downloaded as an aid to my Linux advocacy and if you get
> more subscribers as a result I see this as a win for both of us.
>
> Yours respectfully
> Steve
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFJrpyju7HOw0Q66oERAoXFAJ9GNBDKe0+6oLYSzWR4xorbw/m9LwCgk5Va
0OIInt99B6xJJYq89GJTOBI=
=lewo
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

__ 
Sussex mailing list
Sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk
E-mail Address: sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk
Sussex LUG Website: http://www.sussex.lug.org.uk/
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sussex
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/sussex/attachments/20090304/dbbec5c2/attachment.htm 