We're all clearly aware of the "digital revolution." eBooks, iTunes, Bittorrent, etc., are presenting what were physical media in digital formats. It's got a lot of people up in arms, but a lot of other people are pretty happy. Who's right? Well, both sides have great points. Heck, I still buy vinyl records. I love stuff! But, I'll also admit that hitting the road on a 10-day drive wouldn't be the same without the endless listening choices on my iPod. This dichotomy can either be argued to death, or simply moved beyond.
So, moving on, another set of issues arise - copyrights, ownership, distribution, and other things you as an author should have an interest in. Sarah Weinman wrote a great article on Mediabistro about Google's Unbound conference, where they pretty much got everyone excited about them giving away entire published works for free. Everyone, that is, except the publishers. Does Google have the right to give away copyrighted work freely? Should authors start giving their research and ideas away? These questions are much more interesting than the "paper or plastic?" debate of formats.
The article is heavily supportive of digital publishing, and even Seth Godin chimes-in in this regard. But even Seth continues to publish physical books. As I stated initially, there are great points on both sides of the physical and digital formats; it shouldn't be an all or nothing battle. What's critical for authors, and publishers, moving forward, is how to maintain a sustainable environment for moving ideas.