In a message dated 12/30/98 6:27:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, mike@thekeep.org
writes:

<< If this is true, it's utter disaster for those Sailor Moon fanfic writers
 out there. >>

	Possibly utter disaster, Mike.  Don't be an alarmist...

<< One of the large reasons that fanfic can be freely circulated is that we
 don't take money from the corporations - we actually serve as free
 advertising. Sueing our usually poor accounts would be counterproductive,
 and damages would be difficult to prove.
 
 Official novels, however, change the equasion.
 
 Mixx can argue - and quite convincingly - "Look, we're losing money
 because of these clowns. Why should Joe Otaku shell out fifteen bucks for
 one of our novels when he can get the same kind of thing on the net for
 free?" >>

	Well, the first problem is that, knowing what I do of Mixx (very friendly to
consumers on a tight budget; target audience seems to be teenagers who like
manga/anime more then otaku), you need stop thinking hardback and start
thinking paperback.  If you already are thinking paperback, then I don't think
they'd get very far.  $15 is an acceptable price for a hardback or a paperback
the size of a phonebook...
	Secondly, it's much easier to carry around a book then a stack of printed out
pages.  I am likely to consider the x bucks worth the ease of transport and
get the book for when I'm going to be going on a trip.


		--Ryo Hoshi