DRM Silliness

VillageReader · 01-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Well, I was browsing at Fictionwise.com today, and a publishing company has a Haggard book with DRM. Now, this has been out of copyright for years. And is available for free at Project Gutenburg, among other places.

I'm just wondering if the marketing genius that made this decision has his head up his nether regions, or whether (s)he is of the opinion that the rest of the world does.

Sheesh.

RWood · 01-12-2008, 08:14 PM

You forget that that also includes the all important English-English translation. English-English translators are hard to find. Also, they charge a lot.

HarryT · 01-13-2008, 03:33 AM

No different from the fact that all Sony's "classics" have DRM. It is a bit daft, I agree.

Sparrow · 01-13-2008, 03:48 AM

Could it be that some aspects of the book are in copyright (introduction, illustrations etc.) ?

HarryT · 01-13-2008, 03:54 AM

To the best of my knowledge, ANY commercially-published classic, even when derived from a public domain source, is a copyrighted work, regardless of whether the publisher has added anything to it (as you say, they generally do add introductions and things like that). I could claim a copyright on the Dickens books I've posted here if I wanted to (which I don't).

Nate the great · 01-13-2008, 11:06 AM

I don't think that's correct Harry. I've purchased 4 public domain ebooks (because that was the only way to find a copy). Don't worry, I haven't posted any here. No copyright was claimed on the source material, just on the introduction and any extras that the publisher added.

delphidb96 · 01-13-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

To the best of my knowledge, ANY commercially-published classic, even when derived from a public domain source, is a copyrighted work, regardless of whether the publisher has added anything to it (as you say, they generally do add introductions and things like that). I could claim a copyright on the Dickens books I've posted here if I wanted to (which I don't).

Which illustrates the flaw in copyrighting. If an original work has fallen out of copyright and some publisher comes along and slaps on a foreword or adds some illustrations in a re-issue - post-copyright - it should not be considered 'copyrighted'.

And then we have the idiotic mess commonly called DRM... Gives one pause to wonder whether we've really 'progressed' this past century.

Derek

carandol · 01-13-2008, 02:41 PM

I bought a DRM'd copy of Rudyard Kipling's "Kim" a few weeks ago, on the grounds that it had an introduction and academic notes. Wasn't till I'd got it that I discovered that there were no links between the note numbers in the text and the actual notes at the end of the book, which makes them completely useless unless you're very patient...

DMcCunney · 01-13-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

To the best of my knowledge, ANY commercially-published classic, even when derived from a public domain source, is a copyrighted work, regardless of whether the publisher has added anything to it (as you say, they generally do add introductions and things like that). I could claim a copyright on the Dickens books I've posted here if I wanted to (which I don't).

I believe what you refer to is a "compilation copyright". The underlying text may be in the public domain, but the particular volume issued by that publisher is not.
______
Dennis

01-12-2008, 07:36 PM	#1
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	DRM Silliness Well, I was browsing at Fictionwise.com today, and a publishing company has a Haggard book with DRM. Now, this has been out of copyright for years. And is available for free at Project Gutenburg, among other places. I'm just wondering if the marketing genius that made this decision has his head up his nether regions, or whether (s)he is of the opinion that the rest of the world does. Sheesh.

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01-12-2008, 08:14 PM	#2
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	You forget that that also includes the all important English-English translation. English-English translators are hard to find. Also, they charge a lot.

01-13-2008, 03:33 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No different from the fact that all Sony's "classics" have DRM. It is a bit daft, I agree.

01-13-2008, 03:48 AM	#4
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Could it be that some aspects of the book are in copyright (introduction, illustrations etc.) ?

01-13-2008, 03:54 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	To the best of my knowledge, ANY commercially-published classic, even when derived from a public domain source, is a copyrighted work, regardless of whether the publisher has added anything to it (as you say, they generally do add introductions and things like that). I could claim a copyright on the Dickens books I've posted here if I wanted to (which I don't).

01-13-2008, 11:06 AM	#6
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	I don't think that's correct Harry. I've purchased 4 public domain ebooks (because that was the only way to find a copy). Don't worry, I haven't posted any here. No copyright was claimed on the source material, just on the introduction and any extras that the publisher added.

01-13-2008, 02:41 PM	#8
carandol Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 2153430 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: BeBook	I bought a DRM'd copy of Rudyard Kipling's "Kim" a few weeks ago, on the grounds that it had an introduction and academic notes. Wasn't till I'd got it that I discovered that there were no links between the note numbers in the text and the actual notes at the end of the book, which makes them completely useless unless you're very patient...

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