Thread: Tor/Forge Books Announces DRM-Free E-book Store
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Old 06-05-2012, 03:37 PM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joykins View Post
Stross actually said something similar--that there is not much to be gained in removing DRM from bestsellers as they are generally read once by non-readers and generally regarded as disposable anyway. The removal of DRM avoids *pissing off* voracious (usually genre) readers with large collections who are afraid of losing access through format shifting/technical failure, and who value sharing with friends (who then often become fans). While most book sales are to the former type of readers, there are still large niche markets for the latter and Tor caters to one of them.

I think Stross is also correct that removing DRM removes a barrier to access for non-Amazon e-booksellers who wish to sell kindle ebooks. You *can't* as far as I can tell, sell DRM-infected kindle books without going through Amazon somehow. This literally breaks a stranglehold. I'm not sure it'll play out exactly as Stross envisions, but it opens up the possibility.
The problem there is it goes both ways-Amazon can now sell to the non-Amazon bookseller's customers.
I bet Mr. Stross didn't see that one coming. I'm not really sure that going DRM free is going to promote competitive diversity at all. Heck, it may go the other way-it may help Amazon.
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