Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Re: Why Stephen King is cool

Author:Dennis Peterson
Posted:7/25/2000; 1:19:59 PM
Topic:Why Stephen King is cool
Msg #:19055 (In response to 19048)
Prev/Next:19054 / 19056

Hmmm...if you don't want a middleman, are you suggesting that Stephen King set up his own merchant accounts and online commerce server? If not, someone is going to be a middleman, whether it's Amazon, Cybercash, PayPal, whatever. Somebody with infrastructure has to handle the transactions.

I've been boycotting Amazon too, but look at the larger issue--if authors start releasing unencrypted text and taking voluntary contributions, Amazon's entire business model takes a hit. Especially when digital paper turns into reality. Somehow I don't see Amazon turning into a real force in the micropayments industry.

(Not that I hate Amazon, just their patent policy. Their website and service rock, and if they would just quit being jerks I'd spend a hundred bucks a month there.)

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