LA Times: Thrilling News: King Finds Honesty Pays Off on Internet

[ Thanks to Paul
Eggert for this link. ]

“For those weary of tales about deception, hacking and
piracy on the Internet, consider this: Almost 100,000 people have
paid author Stephen King when they didn’t really have to.
About 152,000 King fans have downloaded electronic copies of his
latest online thriller in its first week on his Web site, and some
93,000 have already paid the $1 fee he asked for.”

“…King isn’t using an outside publisher. He is publishing the
story himself online, so he can earn more money from “The Plant”
even if fewer people read it. And because he is trusting his
audience, he is allowing the text to be printed, as opposed to
“Riding the Bullet” and most other online books, which can be read
only on a computer.”

“Although the major record labels have had little success thus
far competing against free music-sharing programs such as Napster,
that’s in part because “people are aware their favorite artists see
very little of what they spend” on compact discs, said senior
analyst Malcolm Maclachlan of International Data Corp. in Mountain
View, Calif. “If people felt they were ripping off their favorite
artist, it might be different,” Maclachlan said. So it is possible
that some bands will mimic King’s direct approach, using the honor
system for, say, a subscription to fan material that includes music
not available on CDs. “You’re going to see a lot of
experimentation,” he said.”

Complete
Story