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Message from Steve Johnson - Grand Illusions.
While browsing the web recently I discovered something troubling.
I saw an e-book being sold that contained several routines for an
invisible thread reel. The names of the tricks were identical to
the names of the routines that were published in my 1991 book,
"Floating Freely in a Fine Fashion".
This prompted me to dig my book out of the word processor
archives and review it's contents. (It took some time as the book
was written with software that doesn't exist anymore!) Sure
enough, the titles of the routines were as I remembered them and
almost precisely matched the titles of the routines in this
advertised e-book.
I was NOT happy. It looked very much like my copyright was being
violated!
I bought the book and waited patiently for them to e-mail my
copy. After a few hours I received my e-book sent in Microsoft
Word format. I opened the file and took a look.
It was my book.
Text had been added to the book, mostly self-serving propaganda,
but all of the sections from my book were there. They hadn't even
corrected the typos and grammatical errors that I made in '91.
After seeing this proof, I was REALLY unhappy. With some more
checking around, and a few phone calls to the right people, my
beliefs were confirmed - My copyright is being infringed upon.
After considering legal action to be a 'lose-lose' situation for
everyone, I decided to do something far more satisfying (and
effective).
We don't live in the Wild West anymore. Clearly, you can't rob
someone without there being reciprocal action. We are in a day
and age where people are held responsible for their actions -
especially with the use of the Internet.
With this viral way of thinking, my decision is to now give every
single person, interested in the art of magic, the authorized
version of my manuscript - FOR FREE!
After reviewing the old text, making some small revisions to
bring the older manuscript up-to-date, and changing several
typos - It's time to give away electronic copies, free, on the
Grand Illusions website.
All you have to do is just click the link below, and you will
land on the download page. You can have it for no monetary
charge.
I ask only one small favor.
Whether or not you choose to download the authorized version of
my electronic book for free, please tell all your magic friends
about it. Tell them that they can have the book for free too!
When they ask you why Steve Johnson is giving away his material
for free, tell them he was being ripped off and didn't want to
let it happen anymore. He was sick and tired of it, and finally
did something about it.
I'd rather EVERYONE have the material at no charge than let some
unethical magic dealer sell unauthorized copies at an outrageous
price!
Tell your friends this is my way of combating the copyright
infringement, my stand against the increasingly popular trend of
stealing intellectual property.
When you've downloaded it, please save my electronic book to your
hard drive, copy it to your PDA, or print it...it's yours to do
with as you wish.
The only thing you can't do is sell my free manuscript or use it
as any part of any profit making offers or ventures like the
unethical magic dealer who started all of this.
But, why would you lower yourself to his standards anyway? That's
not how you operate, nor I.
If you see my electronic book for sale anywhere, please take a
stance and remind the seller that their actions are both
unethical and illegal. And certainly don't trust your credit card
number or hard earned cash with someone like that.
But enough of me talking; go download the authorized version of
my electronic booklet on the invisible thread reel right now.
http://www.grandillusions.com
Click or paste this link now!
Please enjoy it; it's my gift to you and the whole international
community of magic.
When you have a moment, drop me an email at
webmaster@grandillusions.com and let me know if you agree with my
stance on ethics, let me know your feelings about my execution of
this grass roots action and obviously comment on the free
e-booklet you've downloaded and shared with all your friends.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Johnson
Grand Illusions
December. 2006
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