At the Book Expo last week held in Manhattan, publishers met from all over the globe to discuss key issues for their industry, including piracy. The worry is that the book industry will face the music industry’s problem: people will share copyrighted works online.

It’s already happening. Sites like Wattpad.com contain unauthorized copies of novels for free download.

Gallery: RIAA and MPAA's copyright campaign To navigate, drag the slider below  or use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.

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At the convention, the book industry told reporters that it will not make the same mistake as the music industry of suing its customers. Reuters covered the story. A panel scolded the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)’s reputation for lawsuits, saying, “They sure did screw it up.”

Publishers Weekly reported the message from the Book Expo in the article “Book Publishers: Please Don’t Be Like the Music Industry!” Writers and editors at the convention really meant it, saying, “Why frustrate millions of fans? Make it easier for me to get films legally if you want to stop pirating.”

After all, the RIAA stopped suing their customers in December of ’08. Why don’t we all just stop with the silly lawsuits?

It's easier said than done. Here’s the information the press is leaving out, presented as a top 10 countdown. It’s a little satirical, but the information is true.

Top 10 reasons to doubt that the book industry can pull off copyright protection without the use of lawsuits. Just look at how inseparable lawsuits and copyright protection are:

Reason #10: Everyone threatens to sue, even Apple

Apple’s lawyers threatened to sue a site called BluWiki because it contained instructions on using iPods with non-Apple software, such as Windows Media Player. The result? The Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing Apple for the threat.

Reason #9: The 1990s rock musician Evan Dando just sued GM last Thursday

GM, like the rest of us, tried to save a few bucks by copying Dando’s music for use in its commercial. And like what happened to many of us, GM got sued. Perhaps GM will argue that paying for Dando’s music would not be a good use of taxpayers’ money. 

Reason #8: The RIAA can’t let go of its lawsuits, even after it promised to stop suing people

The next trial hearing for Jammie Thomas, whom RIAA accused of sharing 24 songs on Kazaa way back in 2007, is June 15^th. There is a similar case for Joel Tenenbaum, who now tries to have his trial Webcast.

Reason #7: In fact, the RIAA is still suing people, just not in the US

The book industry might not realize that lawsuits are really addictive. Members of the RIAA are suing a programmer in Spain named Soto for writing programs that allow free music download online.

Reason #6: Colleges, which once feared lawsuits from RIAA, now take initiatives on their own

A pornography site used the acronym NAU, the same as that of the National American University. In May of this year, the university sued for copyright infringement.

Reason #5: After it stopped suing people, the RIAA doesn’t know what to do

It’s trying a nicer approach, asking ISPs to cut off people’s Internet if they pirate music, but the ISPs are not cooperating! The book industry is also trying a non-threaten approach to tell infringers to stop. Let's hope they have better luck.

Reason #4: Even the Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) is getting sued.

In October of 2008, the MPAA sued RealNetwork for its product RealDVD, which allows people to copy commercial DVDs. To deal with the mess, RealNetworks filed a suit against MPAA for antitrust.

Reason #3: Skip the lawsuits, we’ll just find you guilty.

The French government will cut you off from the internet if you are believed to be a copyright pirate. No need to go to court, the punishment will come to you automatically.

Reason #2: Sonia Sotomayor thinks that lawsuits are the answers to copyright infringement.

According to Wired News, Obama’s Supreme Court nominee is very supportive of punishing infringers with fines in court.

And…the number one reason to deconstruct the book industry’s promise that they can protect copyright without ever using lawsuits:

 Reason #1: The book industry has already sued Google for copyright infringement!!! 

Google planned to make books publicly available online by digitalizing them. The Association of American Publishers (AAP – not to be confused with the MAPP) sent a warning letter in 2005. Shortly after, Google got sued. It took until October of 2008 to settle. Google even created a website to tell you all about it.

Reporters should have seen this elephant in the room when talking about the book industry condemning the use of lawsuits.