If authors can't make a living, and publishers lose money, readers will inevitably have fewer choices.

The publishers will lose because they stand the risk of possible copyright liability judgments.

But publishers and online booksellers have not yet lost faith.

In addition, big publishers may lose some power to push new publications.

But publishers are losing money, and customers are taking note.

The remaining publisher, Sandberg, lost his license to publish in 1950.

But by charging, say, $25 for a book that costs only $3 to produce the publisher loses some potential profitable sales.

True, consumers probably save a few dollars while authors and publishers may lose some sales from a used book market.

This led to a famous court case which Hanley's publisher lost.

But the publisher cannot consistently lose money and stay in business.