Shadowgirls

I've decided to try and help out with this topic. There can only be two solutions for the readers outside the US until Wowio starts including them. You will either have to purchase the trades or purchase a PDF download. His first proposal was $0.79, which is the same as an i-Tunes download.

They tried doing it for a donation, but I think some people were not donating anything. But the donation was and is required because they have a legal contract with Wowio that says they cannot release these for free on their own. The donation was supposed to allow them to "give" the comics to us for nearly nothing and still keep up their end of the legal bargain. Since that didn't work, now there will be a set fee to download the issues if enough people are interested and willing to pay this hopefully managable amount.

What I think people are missing is the fact that the contract is there and that just because the US readers aren't personally paying for the content, someone is. This is how they make money to help them keep giving us SG every week.

Sorry for the rant, but there was a lot of repeating of the same info on several of the page boards and I'm sure Dave was getting tired of repeating himself. Please respond here to let Dave know what you think of this proposal.

Pengie will shut up now.

I seem to remember when people first started screaming about Wowio, there was some sort of 'recommend a friend' feature that people were using to get around the US only thing. Any Wowio users notice anything like that?

Actually, I heard the same thing last night from another Wowio artist... you should be able to recommend 5 friends or vouch for them. I'll more into this and see what I can find out for those who are still interested.

If not, you can always "borrow" someone's ID/registered/non anonymous email and try it that way.

I don't know about the recommend a friend thing. If we can, that's great. I would be more than happy to help some people with that if that's the case.

As for encouraging "borrowing" someones log on or email, I'm sure doing do would probably violate the contract they are working with. I don't want to be responsible for Wowio trying to sue for breach of contract or anything so let's not advocate that. I'm also pretty sure it's against the user agreement we agree to when we sign up. I know it's easy to say they'll never know, but I don't think it would be nice to put SG and Starkweather in the middle like that.

If we can find a legal way to work with Wowio to get you guys the downloads, I'm sure it will be done. Otherwise, I think we are stuck with the above solutions.

Pengie

Yeahhh... I see your point. I'll look over that user agreement some more and see what I can figure out. The person who told me about the recommend a friend thing is off line until tomorrow, so I'll hit her up then.

That's great Sas. Thanks. I have to work tomorrow, so I don't have time to wade through the legalese. I will look further on the Wowio site when i can to see if I can find any clues too.

Just going over the user agreement, this is what it says about accounts and passwords.

"Member Account, Password, and Security
You will receive a password and account designation upon completing the Service's registration process. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and account and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to (a) immediately notify WOWIO of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session. You are responsible for logging out if your computer is accessible to others. This prevents unauthorized access. WOWIO cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this Section."

What I have a problem with is that they didn't specify what authorized and unauthorized access actually means. While you are required to provide honest and accurate and keep honest and accurate information, it says no where in the terms of service that one is not allowed to give access to a third party to use the services, only that you're responsible if that person does something that violates the terms and services. But that's just my first read through. I'll look through it again tomorrow probably.

Also, I used their little "contact" thing and asked them if there was any way we could vouch for people who were outside of the country, recommend a friend etc. I'll post if I get a meaningful response.

The previous company I worked for advocated the WIFE policy.

Whats In it For Everyone.

I don't think we should look to find a way to cheat WOWIO as, lets face it, their doing a bloody good job of keeping the internet free and keeping authors/artists fed.

Cheating their system will only destroy it for everyone. Don't just look for a legal way around it. Look for a fair way (although if you're thinking of just paying arcania for the download, I can tell you it's worth it). Heck, I'll probably buy the paper editions it was that good.

Must wait 'till birthday!

Agreed Charles, in many respects. I think the controversy has simply become that people don't think it''s fair that they have to pay for the download and US citz don't.

As far as Wowio, despite my resolve to sleep, I was looking through the site and they do have a very valid reason for what they do. Their reasoning for not extending their services to other countries is because of varying differences in copyright laws in said countries. Each country has it's own laws. There doesn't seem to be an international standard, so this is their way of protecting the authors/artists using their site to distribute their product. I find myself in majority agreement with them. It's much easier to protect printed media from copyright infringement than digital media. Printed books have a date in them. Digital media can be altered if you're smart enough to figure out how. Before any one shouts at me, I know people can alter printed material as well. It's just not as easy. Now, while I don't think any of the people asking for the issues are doing so to rip off the Daves, erring on the side of caution is probably better.

After having read through all of it, I don't see an equitable way to use this service for fans in other countries that would not put the content at risk. I would simply recommend requesting that SG and Starkweather be put up for download with a nominal fee.
Sorry guys.

Pengie

I wasn't looking for a way to cheat Wowio, I was just looking in the terms of service to see what I had agreed to in the contract and what is explicitly against the rules. No where in there does it say no one else is allowed to use your account, only that you are responsibly legally for what happens. If my best friend in Denmark wants to use my Wowio account to download Starkweather, then it would be my legal obligation to make sure he didn't do anything that would violate the copyright laws. If my friend was to download from my account he would a.) get the same material I would, including the advertisments, and b.) contribute to the authors via web download.

I think the paragraph is worded the way it is to make people think twice about doing something like having a free account with a known password. I think that would be unwise. I'm going to wait until they get back to me to see if there is any other way where the Daves don't have to require someone to pay in order to see their work.


EDIT: Apparently they only make money on unique downloads... so back to square one.

At the risk of being a double dirty poster... here's the reply I got from Wowio about vouching for friends.

"Hi Sarah,

We are expanding Internationally as quickly as possible, and would ask that you ask them to hang on a little longer. Publishers are watching WOWIO as an experiment in digital distribution carefully, and if they become convinced that people will not abide by the terms of use then we will not be able to get the books that make this whole effort worthwhile. Be assured that we hear the banging on the door from the rest of the world (we get MANY emails from non-U.S. folks wanting in) and we are working hard and fast to get to them.

Thanks and best,

The WOWIO Team"

Oh well. Cross our fingers and hope they're able to do it quickly/efficiently.

I've been crossing my fingers for GameTap for over two years now. Fat lot of help that did.