Quote:
Originally Posted by motjebben
Bottom line: As any computer user will tell one, it is imperative to back up one's data - any number of things can go wrong. By backing up the right information, one should be able to restore one's data at any point in the future. This sometimes means backing up the data, a passkey, and even possibly the original program that "bound" the two.
How do all of you back up your books for perpetuity?
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Actually, I disagree that there is an "imperative" to back up one's DRM e-book data.
With non-DRM (which are mainly free books), by all means employ standard computer back-up routines.
With DRM material -- from Amazon, B&N, Sony, etc -- there is no need to do a back-up since you can grab a copy in the future from your account.
You may argue those folks may go out of business, so make a local copy. Cool. But, they may
not go out of business, either -- and you'll be able to transfer a fresh copy, along with your rights, to future devices authenticated by those companies.
That's the deal you accept when you purchase from them. Like any contract, if you don't like the deal, don't take it.
I'd also argue that most people do not ever re-read their books. So even if you lose a bunch through bankruptcy and hardware failure, the loss is slight. You might even be able to borrow from your local library by then.
And the final alternative is "breaking the law" and altering the files by removing DRM. Note that making a personal back-up is probably legal but removing the DRM is not.