Delayed firmware update due to legal dispute?

Prospect · 10-11-2009, 06:25 PM

Would it be possible that the excessive delays in the release of the new firmware and Bookeen's strange behaviour in this regards is due to some kind of legal dispute with Amazon? We know that Bookeen has taken on some restrictive covenants to get access to the Mobipocket reader, for instance not to put another DRM system on the same reader. For all we know there might be limitations further limitations and such limitations might be the base for a legal dispute. If there is a dispute regarding such issues the timeline for resolving such dispute would be hard to determine for Bookeen and might explain that the release have taken so long time.

This would also explain Bookeen’s lack of communication as a consequence of confidentiality covenants in the license agreement with Amazon (Mobipocket) and not that Bookeen is lightly retarded when it comes to PR.

K-Thom · 10-11-2009, 07:07 PM

This might be true for the PRC-based firmware (though I doubt it), but not for the ePub-version.

So Bookeen still - or: even more - could concentrate on their ePub-firmware and release that one, after all. Or decide to totally drop PRC once and for all and blame it on Amazon.

No, I think they just don't get it finished in time (whatever time ...).

EowynCarter · 10-12-2009, 03:18 AM

I think there is not one problem for the update, but a sum of problems.

Form what they said bookeen tried to get authorization from amazon to put both mobi drm and ePub drm on the same firmware, but it failed in the end, so bookeen had to go for plan B (ie two firmware)

Gaurnim · 10-12-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prospect

This would also explain Bookeen’s lack of communication as a consequence of confidentiality covenants in the license agreement with Amazon (Mobipocket) and not that Bookeen is lightly retarded when it comes to PR.

Your suggestion makes sense.
I can totally picture Amazon going to court over this as, depending on the exact wording, they could choose an interpretation of the contract where having two different firmwares with different DRM systems on the samed device would not be permitted. After that it's a lawyer battle and Amazon clearly has the bigger guns in this department.

But I think Bookeen should be able to say that the firmware release has been delayed due to legal concerns, even if they can't give details.

K-Thom · 10-12-2009, 05:34 AM

As I said, then my advice to Bookeen would be:

"Drop prc, ASAP. Blame it on Amazon. Concentrate on ePub. Publish that firmware. Communicate it to the customers and partners. Enjoy."

gerraldo · 10-12-2009, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

Drop prc, ASAP. Blame it on Amazon. Concentrate on ePub...

NOT!!! Besides, AFAIK it's that st*nkin' ePub-version that keeps us Mobi-users from getting the update...

EowynCarter · 10-12-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

As I said, then my advice to Bookeen would be:

"Drop prc, ASAP. Blame it on Amazon. Concentrate on ePub. Publish that firmware. Communicate it to the customers and partners. Enjoy."

Seconded !

ePub ePub ePub !

Loopy65 · 10-12-2009, 07:55 AM

Having bought the opus and handed my Gen 3 to hubby have to say I'm an ePub convert .. at the start I was going to change as soon as the new firmware was available .. now I won't bother

Loopy

Ortep · 10-12-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Seconded !

ePub ePub ePub !

Why should I accept a system with less capabilities? Less font sizes, no dictionary support?

I aggree that ePub looks promissing, but that is al it is: Promissing

Untill they deliver I'll stay with Mobi/PRC

ErwinOtten · 10-12-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortep

Why should I accept a system with less capabilities? Less font sizes, no dictionary support?

I aggree that ePub looks promissing, but that is al it is: Promissing

Untill they deliver I'll stay with Mobi/PRC

I totally agree.......... MOBI MOBI MOBI

EowynCarter · 10-12-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortep

Why should I accept a system with less capabilities? Less font sizes, no dictionary support?

I aggree that ePub looks promissing, but that is al it is: Promissing

Untill they deliver I'll stay with Mobi/PRC

ePub have at least two big advantages over mobi :
One can use more than one font per file. It's open and easily editable

What do you by less font size ? ePub can use any font size you want. Dictionary support is the only advantage I can find to mobi.

Truttebol · 10-12-2009, 10:54 AM

I am all for ePub too. Give me ePub, give me an update!!!!!

Is it Soonday already....

marcinJ13 · 10-12-2009, 12:12 PM

1) I don't have any ePub books at the moment. My reader is used to read both english and polish books. So far I haven't found even a single application that displays correctly some of polish characters (ąęśćźżółń).

2) I have quite big library of books in prc format and I don't want to loose this investment. For example OALD dictionary. I have it in prc format and it works great with prc books. Can anyone with epub firmware say the same?

So I agree that ePub is "promissing", but not even close to be winner. And apparently it is delaying firmware release for prc users. So:

Drop ePub, ASAP. Blame it on whatever. Concentrate on prc. Publish that firmware. Communicate it to the customers and partners. Enjoy

K-Thom · 10-12-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Is it Soonday already....

I'm afraid we're heading straight towards Looneyday ...

gerraldo · 10-12-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

ePub have at least two big advantages over mobi :
One can use more than one font per file. It's open and easily editable

Advantages?! Not for me, as a reader (and DRMed-ePub is neither open nor editable)...

Disadvantages (ePub):
- no (native) dictionary support
- no justification (on most devices)
- mandatory font(s) (from publisher)

BTW: As others already pointed out, ePub looks promising and I'd surely like to be able to read non-DRMed ePubs on my Gen3, but as long as all problems with ePub are not cleared I stick with Mobi!

10-11-2009, 06:25 PM	#1
Prospect Other Posts: 143 Karma: 644 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norway Device: Cybook, Kindle	Delayed firmware update due to legal dispute? Would it be possible that the excessive delays in the release of the new firmware and Bookeen's strange behaviour in this regards is due to some kind of legal dispute with Amazon? We know that Bookeen has taken on some restrictive covenants to get access to the Mobipocket reader, for instance not to put another DRM system on the same reader. For all we know there might be limitations further limitations and such limitations might be the base for a legal dispute. If there is a dispute regarding such issues the timeline for resolving such dispute would be hard to determine for Bookeen and might explain that the release have taken so long time. This would also explain Bookeen’s lack of communication as a consequence of confidentiality covenants in the license agreement with Amazon (Mobipocket) and not that Bookeen is lightly retarded when it comes to PR.

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10-11-2009, 07:07 PM	#2
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	This might be true for the PRC-based firmware (though I doubt it), but not for the ePub-version. So Bookeen still - or: even more - could concentrate on their ePub-firmware and release that one, after all. Or decide to totally drop PRC once and for all and blame it on Amazon. No, I think they just don't get it finished in time (whatever time ...).

10-12-2009, 03:18 AM	#3
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,332 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	I think there is not one problem for the update, but a sum of problems. Form what they said bookeen tried to get authorization from amazon to put both mobi drm and ePub drm on the same firmware, but it failed in the end, so bookeen had to go for plan B (ie two firmware)

10-12-2009, 05:34 AM	#5
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	As I said, then my advice to Bookeen would be: "Drop prc, ASAP. Blame it on Amazon. Concentrate on ePub. Publish that firmware. Communicate it to the customers and partners. Enjoy."

10-12-2009, 07:55 AM	#8
Loopy65 Groupie Posts: 172 Karma: 360 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wales, UK Device: Kindle 3; iPad & iPhone 4	Having bought the opus and handed my Gen 3 to hubby have to say I'm an ePub convert .. at the start I was going to change as soon as the new firmware was available .. now I won't bother Loopy

10-12-2009, 10:54 AM	#12
Truttebol Book worm Posts: 31 Karma: 260 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-600, Cybook Gen3	I am all for ePub too. Give me ePub, give me an update!!!!! Is it Soonday already....

10-12-2009, 12:12 PM	#13
marcinJ13 Member Posts: 13 Karma: 288 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3	1) I don't have any ePub books at the moment. My reader is used to read both english and polish books. So far I haven't found even a single application that displays correctly some of polish characters (ąęśćźżółń). 2) I have quite big library of books in prc format and I don't want to loose this investment. For example OALD dictionary. I have it in prc format and it works great with prc books. Can anyone with epub firmware say the same? So I agree that ePub is "promissing", but not even close to be winner. And apparently it is delaying firmware release for prc users. So: Drop ePub, ASAP. Blame it on whatever. Concentrate on prc. Publish that firmware. Communicate it to the customers and partners. Enjoy

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