Starting Off Ass-Backwards: On Free eBook Companions

One 2012 legal publishing industry development which demonstrates that old habits don't die in the so-called New Normal of 21st century legal publishing is the replacement of CDs with eBook companions to pBooks launched by LexisNexis. If print is dead -- I believe it most certainly is dying in the sense that enhanced Law eBooks is another nail in the coffin of the print medium for professional legal literature -- then why give eBooks away for "free"? Why devalue a 21st century content delivery format that will increasing replace pBooks by adding value?

This is an instance of starting off ass-backwards. The smarter course of action whould have been to sell eBooks while giving away for free at the buyer's discretion their companion pBooks until such time as individual consumers and institutional buyers no longer wanted the pBooks. And that time will come. Then what Lexis? [JH]