Amazon sales of Deep Learning with Python are counterfeit (twitter.com)

Article summary

François Chollet, author of Deep Learning with Python, reported that Amazon sales of his book are counterfeit, with buyers receiving lower-quality printed copies from fraudulent sellers. This issue has been ongoing for a few months, and Chollet stated that anyone who bought his book from Amazon during this time likely received a counterfeit copy. The problem is attributed to Amazon's policies and the ease of uploading PDFs to the platform, allowing counterfeiters to produce and sell fake books. As a result, Amazon has stopped carrying its own inventory of the book, relying on third-party sellers.

Main themes

• Counterfeit products on Amazon
• Author and publisher rights
• E-commerce and consumer protection
• Copyright law and DMCA
• Online shopping habits and risks
• Quality control and authenticity

What commenters say

• Some commenters question why people still use Amazon despite its issues with counterfeit products and poor customer service.
• Others argue that Amazon's convenience, return policy, and wide selection keep them coming back, despite the risks of counterfeit products.
• The use of Amazon's print-on-demand service can make it difficult for authors to control the quality and authenticity of their books.
• Some commenters suggest that Amazon should be liable for the counterfeit products sold on its platform, while others argue that the company is not responsible for verifying the authenticity of every product.
• The discussion also touches on the topic of copyright law and how it can be used to address counterfeit products.
• Some commenters share their personal experiences with buying books on Amazon, including receiving counterfeit or poor-quality products.
• There is a debate about the effectiveness of the DMCA in addressing copyright infringement and counterfeit products.
• Some commenters argue that buying directly from the publisher or author is the best way to ensure authenticity and quality.