Orphalese Tarot Zone Community Forum

Thanks everyone who has posted messages of support for the Orphalese Tarot and the Deck Exchange. I agree (of course) that the exchange has led to many people buying tarot decks that they would not otherwise have bought. But I have to say that with hindsight I also agree with the publishers point of view - they didn't ask me to do them this favour and I should have checked with each of them first.

Having slept on it, the next part of the plan is clear. I am going to begin negotiating with all the major publishers to set up a pay-per-download deal on their decks at whatever rate they decide to charge. I would imagine between 50c and a dollar. Hopefully some of them will be interested in this. Of course, with time they might decide it is in their interest to charge less, but that would be up to them.

In the Deck Exchange then people will have a selection of free decks and of paying decks, a bit like pay-per-view on cable TV. We have the tried and tested technology in place to do this so we could be up and running again on this basis in weeks rather than months, and we will have an exchange based on the solid core of copyright free decks and files back up and running in days, as soon as we identify which files go in which categories.

I have woken up in a good mood this morning. It is great to receive these messages of support, and I guess all I have to do is sell to a few big companies an idea which is going to make them money, really a no-lose situation for them.

If I don't post in here for a few days it is because I am going to Madrid for matters related to the day job. I will be back at the weekend.

Cheers
Richard

Aloha, Richard!

I was sickened to sign on this morning and read about 0 decks being available. I read all of the comments and agree with many of them.

All morning I kept wondering which publishers are giving you trouble, so I could boycott them. But after giving it more thought this afternoon, I decided their identity is irrelevant -- it could be one company that gives you grief today and some other one that gives you attitude (or worse, files a lawsuit against you) several months, or years, down the road. What matters is that you feel comfortable with the new scheme, whatever that ends up being.

Don't get me wrong: I don't wanna pay per download any more than anybody else does. I can't even see those thumbnail images, I have to download the deck to preview each card. And I REALLY resent seeing this fantastic cyber-community effort come to a screeching halt -- especially with 20+ decks sitting here in various stages of scanning and cutting in preparation for upload!

But the bottom line is: it was you, Richard, who went out on a limb to offer the world this wonderful program, and it'll be you who takes the heat from those who feel threatened by its existence. So I say do what you need to do to feel comfortable, and tell us how we can support you.

Re negotiating with publishers. Would it help to offer promotional information upfront on every deck we upload? Some members have been doing this informally, to one degree or another, all along, giving the deck name, author, artist, publisher, and/or ISBN number., etc. I don't know if agreeing to formalize such a practice would be a useful negotiating tool, but it does seem like it might help to soften the publishers' antagonism somewhat. And providing any such missing pieces of information is a task that could be spread out over the membership. Just a thought ...

Later,
Sue Jones

To both Sue and Richard!

I see the problems and I also agree with both parties. On the other hand I can't help to think that the publishers are suffering from a great deal of paranoia, and is missing the promotional value the deck exchange has offered them without cost to them.

I cannot imagine anyone printing a whole deck of cards to use instead of buying the real deck if they find it useful. There have been a lot of decks that I did not know even existed in the exchange.

I see the problems and also the money policies the publishing companies a working under. It is mostly a matter of copyright infringement which I fully understand must be dealt with. Hope it turns out to everyone’s advantage so this forum, which hopefully has more solid ground for its existence than a deck exchange page, can see and try out decks they never saw before.

All my best to everyone and the grumpy publishers too ?

Thomas

Keep up the good work Richard (thumbs up, you know you have my support).

Hi Richard,

Will there be an option for uploaders as to which part of the exchange to upload to?

There are a number of decks that I have made that are not commercial, some that I intend to sell (physically), and some that I make for members (specials).

(Yes, I am the Odd Ball.)

Does this afford me a special status? LOL!!!!!!

I hope that Madrid is enjoyable for you!

Take Care,

Marvin

Hi Richard

First of all I would like to apologise for any grief caused to you by the Deck Exchange. I uploaded 5 decks that I own and I accept responsibility for my actions. Good luck with your negotiations with the publishing companies. However, I do not hold out much hope - I suspect that publishing companies will want to run their own kind of deck exchange etc.

Best wishes.

Christopher