if you’re a trans author, check the site because your stuff is probably up there they claim there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing, but if that’s true why don’t they ask permission before posting our books? you know exactly why protect your work and ask them to take it down

trans authors struggle so much as it is, we don’t need people pulling sales from our books to line their own pockets, while claiming it’s about “protecting” our work it’s so disingenuously appalling to do this to an already marginalized group of creators

you can read our books for free via libraries! doing so supports trans authors! and costs you nothing! just… do that if you can’t spare the ten bucks for a digital copy! we have libraries for that very reason

some people out here catching blocks for actually saying “I don’t want to pay trans creators for their work, but I am entitled to it if I want it” you are not entitled to ANY artist’s time and labor for free y’know who thinks like that? CAPITALIST BILLIONAIRES what a side to choose to be on

you want to provide trans books to more people? this is how you do it ETHICALLY i would be DELIGHTED to have these folks offer my books

I didn't know about this resource, thank you for highlighting it.

Damn, they *very* selectively quote Les Feinberg talking about *hir decision* to allow the free distribution of _Stone Butch Blues_ to justify transreads making that decision for other authors. So slimy!

it would be terrible if people suddenly started uploading dozens of copies of the bee movie script and labeling it with other works' names.

Wait, they admit copying works without permission or a fair use argument then excuse it by saying it helps author sales? Oh, hell no. This is copyright infringement. Your first step: issue a cease and desist order. Strongly encourage you to check out pro bono resources here. ccb.gov/pro-bono-ass...

Their argument is bad faith. Even if the study they cite draws that conclusion, *they still need to get consent from the authors whose works they're selling*. Piracy to obtain a personal copy is one thing. Piracy to then sell it to others is quite a different and much less ambiguous kettle of fish.

Consent or fair use. US copyright law doesn’t care if your infringing use *may positively affect the market for the original. Their argument is a laughable self-own.

Damn. That's low.

so very

That sounds like a copyright violation to me.

guess who they know don’t have the funds to get lawyers involved? trans people! 🥳

Time for a fund raiser.

Time for a cis lawyer to step up and do it pro bono

Sending a cease and desist really isn't a big deal. It's probably harder to find an address to send it to than to create one. I'll ask a friend about it tomorrow. Copyright isn't his specialty but a C&D might just be a form letter for him.

Yeah I just think maybe some allies could help us out once in a while instead of leaving us to fund our own existences with the jobs we're never employed for.

Fair point. I'll ask my friend tomorrow and see if he can send a C&D. Meantime, does anyone know who the publishers of these original works are? They should be informed. One email to the right person could be the difference.

Usually trans authors are self published because the big four will avoid us once they've got a single one on the books

They don't even have a DMCA page. ACTUAL piracy sites often have a DMCA page

it is an actual piracy site. putting up a DMCA page would be admitting it, and then how could they ask people to donate to their “noble” cause

I know it's an actual piracy site (it even calls itself such in the about page) but I'm saying even like established no-shame piracy sites usually have a page for DMCA requests

never heard of these people, but wow, what self-serving bullshit. "akshully here's a study saying piracy increases consumption!" study: "The estimated displacement rate of illegal book downloads is insignificant." so there's not really data showing this is harmless

looks like they're down, mission accomplished lol

The site's hosted on Wordpress.com. You can submit a DMCA request directly to Automattic through this form: automattic.com/copyright-po...

...bet they're run by fash

That's possible, but... I've met an unpleasant number of trans people who would do something like this. Some pwople will put their own convenience over everything else.

yeah, it’s just as likely either way, sadly

Boycott those MFers! Who owns the site?

Wait, really? Sorry to hear that. Uh, yeah, hold on i will blog this

yes, very really!

Thanks for letting me know. I will let some of my friends in my discord server know.