Self-publishers accuse PayPal of censorship
Online firm refuses to process payments for ebook sites that sell titles with 'erotic or potentially illegal' content
Los Angeles
Sunday 04 March 2012
Related articles
The opening bedroom scene of Andrea Juillerat-Olvera's new, erotic science-fiction novel Demon's Grace is a classic of its kind. "He is on his knees," it begins, "worshiping the cavernous female torso."
Sadly, for admirers of Juillerat-Olvera, it's about to get harder to enjoy her fruity pose. In what victims are calling the most far-reaching act of censorship of the internet era, Demon's Grace and thousands of books like it have just been effectively banned. To blame is the online payment company PayPal, which has a virtual monopoly over the business of allowing cash transfers to be made via the internet.
The US firm has come to dominate online self-publishing, a rapidly expanding industry which allows authors sell ebooks directly to readers. Last week, without warning, PayPal wrote to every major self-publishing website, announcing that henceforth it will refuse to process payments for clients that sell books which contain certain types of what it regards as "obscene" content.
From now on, the firm said, it will begin aggressively prohibiting erotic literature which contains scenes of bestiality, rape, incest and under-age sex. Ebook websites that sell such works will have their PayPal accounts deactivated. "It's underhanded, unfair and ludicrous, and it bodes badly for the future of free speech and expression," said Juillerat-Olvera, adding that Demon's Grace is now banned by self-publishing sites.
Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords, one of the world's largest such sites, said the announcement has so far caused roughly 1,000 of the 100,000 novels that he stocks to be withdrawn from sale. "Regardless of whether you or I want to read these books, this is perfectly legal fiction and people have a right to publish it," he told The Independent on Sunday. "It surely isn't for some financial services company to control what is written by an author."
Mr Coker said that attempting to enforce PayPal's effective ban is likely to be impossible. "They say they won't have rape, bestiality or incest presented in a way that might titillate. But deciding what constitutes titillation is completely subjective," he said. "The Bible has incest in it, and rape. Nabokov's literature does. Should we ban the sale of those books?"
PayPal's move is odd because its founder, Peter Thiel, proudly bills himself as one of America's leading libertarians. In a statement, the Silicon Valley firm claimed: "In general, PayPal does allow our service to be used for the sale of erotic books, but we have to draw the line on certain adult content that is extreme or potentially illegal." The firm added that the decision does not represent an effort to impose a morality on the reading public.
Vella Munn, who writes under the name Vonna Harper, said that the guidelines will ban the most successful novel from her back catalogue, Carnal Captives. "It contains a scene of non-consensual sex," she said. "But that doesn't make the book illegal. Given that it sells more copies than all my other books combined, I have to conclude that it's what people want. It's incredible: how can an internet company not believe in free speech?"
Life & Style blogs
Wandsworth tops aspiring young professionals hotspot list
Other popular areas include Didsbury, Clifton in Bristol, central Cambridge and West Bridgford
Christian GPs and the morning after pill: Much needed clarification
Doctors are allowed to have personal beliefs, just as long as these beliefs do not interfere with th...
Justin Webb on the medical advances in tackling heart disease
BBC journalist Justin Webb talks about his experiences of the advances in preventing heart attacks a...
Travel Shop
-
The 10 Best Scotch Whiskies
-
Meet David Karp, the 26-year-old high school dropout worth $275m after selling Tumblr to Yahoo
-
Game on: Xbox 720 and PS4 go head to head with Microsoft set to launch console today
-
Masculinity in crisis? 'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
-
Virtually Stephen Fry: Star launches (possibly) the world's most self-regarding app
- 1 Austerity has hardened the nation's heart
- 2 Tottenham to smash pay scale with £150,000-a-week contract in attempt to tie Gareth Bale to club
- 3 Strewth mate. Aussies wave goodbye to Britain as it becomes too pricey to stay
- 4 Be more professional! GCHQ staff rapped as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange reveals messages that he says point to 'fit up'
- 5 Join Ryanair! See the world! But we'll only pay you for nine months a year
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
iJobs Gadgets & Tech
SAP PP
£45000 - £60000 per annum: Progressive Recruitment: SAP PP functional consulta...
SAP SD Consultant
£475 - £476 per day + negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: SAP SD Contract Con...
SAP Consultant MM/WM
£40000 - £47000 per annum + BENEFITS : Progressive Recruitment: Sap Consultant...
SAP Project Manager
£60000 - £70000 per annum: Progressive Recruitment: Your technical knowledge o...
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'







Comments