[pct-l] 2005 revision of "Yogi's PCT Handbook"

[yogihikes at sbcglobal.net (yogi)]

My book is registered with the US Copyright office.  As recommended by that office, I have written permission (from every contributor to the book) to use everyone's comments.  There are different ways to register the copyright -- either as a collection of other's work or as your own work.  Mine is a combination, and IS registered.  I am the author.  My function is not simply a collector of other's opinions.  As a guess, I would say that about 80% of the book is my own words.  The rest is a collection of other hiker opinions.
 
I realize that by writing my book I have opened myself up to criticizm.  I usually let it slide, but not this time.  I worked hard to write my book.  It took a lot of time.  In order to write the book and distribute it, I had to quit one job.  The income I receive from the book is much less than I earned at my second job.  Sure, I get more pleasure from operating the book business, but not more money.  And every week I get emails from people who want me to make the book available for free as an Adobe file.  That's simply not going to happen.  If you want the book, you'll have to buy it.  It's good information.  I'm proud of it.  But it's not free.  Do you think if you wrote to the author of "The DaVinci Code" and asked for his book as a free Adobe file he would send it to you?  Or a free electronic version of "A Walk In The Woods"?  I doubt it.
 
Yep, I'm pretty defensive.  That's because the book is my passion.  It's human nature to defend what you're passionate about.  When people critize me, I get riled up.  A lot of thought, care, time, mental and physical work has gone into each book.  I go to the PO every day to make sure that people get their books in a timely manner.  When the 2005 Data Book showed different mileage, I put together a mileage revision and made it availabe at my cost to people who had recently bought the book.  
 
I hope my book is helpful for those planning a PCT hike.  I hope the "Part 2" pages are helpful while hiking.  I think the book works well, but it's not free.
 
yogi
www.pcthandbook.com 
 


Ilja Friedel <pctl@ilja.ws> wrote:
Hi Scott,

> Authors usually don't operate like you're suggesting. Anything placed on the 
> web becomes public domain, and despite copyright laws this material will 
> inevitably be copied and distributed, altered and edited, perhaps even 
> re-tooled for illegal profit

For this reason there is the option to register a copyright. This can be 
done for 30 bucks or so: http://www.copyright.gov/register/
(If an author does not register he still keeps the copyright but has a 
much harder time profing damages in court.)

Not having ordered Yogi's book (yet) I find her work very usefull. Being 
able to sell the book might not be as financially rewarding for her as a 
daily job (I know what scientific authors get), but I'm sure emotionally 
there is a big component of pride and accomplishment. But it is my 
impression that Yogi's function is often not quite of an author (creating 
new material), but more of an editor (collecting and citing many different 
opinions.) I don't know how this would affect a copyright registration. 
(I'm sure it can be done, just look at newspapers.)


Ilja.
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