Micropublishing
Encyclopedia
Micropublishing is when an individual or group use efficient publishing
and distribution techniques to publish a work intended for a specific micromarket. Typically, these works are not considered by conventional publishers because of their low economy of scale and mass appeal
and the difficulties that would arise in their marketing
.
To make micropublishing more economical, the works are often created, “printed”, sold, and distributed online by a micropublishing company, such as CafePress or Lulu.com
. These micropublishers eliminate many of the entry barriers that prevent independent authors from entering the publishing industry, and often pay out much higher royalty fees than an ordinary publishing house.
Before the emergence of the internet
, micropublishing was considered a "microtrend" that would not play much of a role in the publishing world. The internet has changed this by providing authors and micropublishers with an affordable medium through which to publish and distribute their works.
The Internet is also evolving how the works from traditional publishing, self-publishing
and micro-publishing are distributed. The long imagined dream of digital distribution
for published works is quickly becoming a reality. For micro-publications, digital distribution
may enable greater numbers of authors and potential authors to enter the publishing industry to access immense numbers of readers who prefer to receive and/or consume content in digital form.
Presently, digital versions of all publications are subject to rampant copyright piracy since technology makes it easy to replicate perfect copies of digital materials. This is especially true when such materials are displayed on the Web where scraper sites routinely infringe the works of others.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act
(DMCA) lets copyright holders protect themselves by sending online service providers "take-down notices." Digital copyright holders, however, must first spot unauthorized copies of their works and then find the original infringer, a task made challenging by the vastness of the Internet.
eReaders from companies such as Amazon, Sony, and Barnes and Noble may help both traditional publishers and micro-publishers solve the infringement
problem and protect their works in the digital form. But the ultimate protection innovation for digital distribution appears to be coming. The use of intellectual property
conventions (not just copyright
practices) to protect digital works is accelerating.
Digital micropublishing sites like Scribd
and Docstoc
enable micro-publishers to easily distribute their digital works using intellectual property
licenses. Licensing micro-publications simplifies protecting and tracking those works which are distributed digitally, an approached used for many years by software producers, and in the last decade by MP3 music distributors.
Micro-publishers and authors who use intellectual property
licensing sites are not limited to a specific medium (like eReaders) to distribute their works. This flexibility may allow micropublishing to significantly expand readership while protecting copyrights.
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and distribution techniques to publish a work intended for a specific micromarket. Typically, these works are not considered by conventional publishers because of their low economy of scale and mass appeal
Mass Appeal
Mass Appeal is a two-character play by Bill C. Davis. The comedy-drama focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor and the idealistic young deacon who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish.-Plot:...
and the difficulties that would arise in their marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
.
To make micropublishing more economical, the works are often created, “printed”, sold, and distributed online by a micropublishing company, such as CafePress or Lulu.com
Lulu.com
Lulu is a company offering publishing, printing, and distribution services with headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since their founding in 2002, Lulu has published over 1.1 million titles by creators in over 200 countries and territories and adds 20,000 new titles to their catalogue a month...
. These micropublishers eliminate many of the entry barriers that prevent independent authors from entering the publishing industry, and often pay out much higher royalty fees than an ordinary publishing house.
Before the emergence of the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, micropublishing was considered a "microtrend" that would not play much of a role in the publishing world. The internet has changed this by providing authors and micropublishers with an affordable medium through which to publish and distribute their works.
The Internet is also evolving how the works from traditional publishing, self-publishing
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design , formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR...
and micro-publishing are distributed. The long imagined dream of digital distribution
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
for published works is quickly becoming a reality. For micro-publications, digital distribution
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
may enable greater numbers of authors and potential authors to enter the publishing industry to access immense numbers of readers who prefer to receive and/or consume content in digital form.
Presently, digital versions of all publications are subject to rampant copyright piracy since technology makes it easy to replicate perfect copies of digital materials. This is especially true when such materials are displayed on the Web where scraper sites routinely infringe the works of others.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization . It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to...
(DMCA) lets copyright holders protect themselves by sending online service providers "take-down notices." Digital copyright holders, however, must first spot unauthorized copies of their works and then find the original infringer, a task made challenging by the vastness of the Internet.
eReaders from companies such as Amazon, Sony, and Barnes and Noble may help both traditional publishers and micro-publishers solve the infringement
Infringement
Infringement, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language.In a legal context, an infringement refers to the violation of a law or a right. This includes intellectual property infringements such as:*Copyright infringement...
problem and protect their works in the digital form. But the ultimate protection innovation for digital distribution appears to be coming. The use of intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
conventions (not just copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
practices) to protect digital works is accelerating.
Digital micropublishing sites like Scribd
Scribd
Scribd is a Web 2.0 based document-sharing website which allows users to post documents of various formats, and embed them into a web page using its iPaper format. Scribd was founded by Trip Adler, Tikhon Bernstam, and Jared Friedman in 2006...
and Docstoc
Docstoc
Docstoc is an electronic document repository and online store, aimed at the business community.Although Docstoc operates in a way that is superficially similar to other online document retailer sites such as Scribd, its emphasis is on technical, legal and business documentation...
enable micro-publishers to easily distribute their digital works using intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
licenses. Licensing micro-publications simplifies protecting and tracking those works which are distributed digitally, an approached used for many years by software producers, and in the last decade by MP3 music distributors.
Micro-publishers and authors who use intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
licensing sites are not limited to a specific medium (like eReaders) to distribute their works. This flexibility may allow micropublishing to significantly expand readership while protecting copyrights.