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Comment by btb | Hacker News Reader

Interesting, I've noticed that alot of sites I read started using them as well. I dont know why, because IMO its a giant step backwards compared to pdf's, at least you can always search and copy-paste relevant sections from those. Not so on a few documents I've encountered on scribd.

As an example: http://www.scribd.com/doc/91764042/April-2012-TEF-Commentary When I try to copy-paste some text from that document it comes out gibberish. And I cant search in it either.

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I've noticed increasing use -- on sites focused on revenue. E.g. web page version of "traditional" press publications, who now link to Scribd instead of directly to a PDF.

I don't have an analysis nor experience for an informed comment, but it seems to me that Scribd use is all about attempting to gain some revenue from the content.

A year or two ago, I had to help someone with their Joomla site (personal obligation). Many formerly freely accessible references that were cited in older comments online, I now found "locked up" in Scribd. One/some of the core authors of this documentation appeared to have made a concerted effort to remove the "plain web" versions and relocate them into Scribd.

Fine. Their content. But if you're asking what Scribd is about, that's my impression.

I have the same problem. I got the impression the pasted obfuscation was on purpose and a feature to help them sell their product.

I never verified this; am I wrong?

It seems that some people are shocked that potentially copyrighted material is available..

..and others are shocked that the same content is not conveniently copyable.

Go figure.

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