What is the Smashwords License Statement, and how does it combat piracy?
The Smashwords Licence Statement is a short paragraph we strongly encourage all Smashwords authors and publishers to place at the front of their book, right below the title and copyright page. Unlike traditional copyright statements that warn readers not to copy the book, the Smashwords License Statement offers a kindler, gentler reminder to the reader that they have a legal and moral obligation to compensate the author for their hard work. It’s our belief at Smashwords that the biggest piracy threat is not on underground file sharing torrent sites, it’s honest and accidental sharing. If you place the Smashwords License Statement in your book, it acts as a trojan horse. If your book is illegally shared, the recipient is reminded of their obligation to return to Smashwords and pay for it.
