Programmatically wrapping acsm files with DRM, no ADE GUI!

Atarian · 01-26-2015, 07:36 AM

Hi all, calling ADE and other Adobe stuff experts! I'm trying to find a way to automatically wrap Adobe's DRM on acsm files without the user having to go through ADE. Our application would take care of syncing the resulting ePUB or PDF with the eReader.

We are thinking of several options, but not sure if some are possible:

a) run ADE in line command mode at our backend, passing user's Adobe ID as parameters, together source and target file locations. Would that be possible at all? Could' find any info on using command line with ADE, although we have seen it does indeed support receiving the source file path as parameter.

b) somehow use some the dll's included with ADE to run our own app; got no info on those dll's though so no idea how could (if) they can be used from our code.

c) license Adobe's RMDSK, which we understand includes all the necessary code. However this would be an expensive overkill as we have no need for most of the functionality it provides (we're not creating a reading app, just need to process the acsm and get the resulting, DRM wrapped ePUB)

Anyone with some experience in this area who can help? Thanks beforehand!

eschwartz · 01-26-2015, 08:57 PM

Only Adobe has the necessary software to create ADEPT-encypted ebooks. This will not change unless Adobe suddenly decides they want people to use their DRM system for absolutely free...

There is no command-line mode to ADE. What it can do, is act as an Open With option for filetypes it knows how to... open.

Adobe isn't completely and utterly stupid. They created the system to sell RMSDK, they aren't going to allow just anyone to use it with "the command-line".

That being said, why bother with the DRM anyway? It doesn't prevent piracy (pirates just download all the pirated books already out there, or exploit the analog loophole and screenshot it then use OCR) and the DRM will be cracked the very instant it becomes popular enough that a noticeable number of people buy books using it. Case in point -- Adobe DRM has been cracked for years, with no change in status.
So is Amazon's homegrown DRM.
Apple spends a tremendous amount of money fighting with program updates to control their ecosystem, and also no one really buys Apple iBooks. No one has felt it worthwhile enough to crack.
Kobo DRM was broken.
B&N DRM was broken.
The four most popular DRM schemes have all been broken for so long that people have virtually never been NOT able to remove it.
Many consumers will refuse to buy an ebook unless they can strip the DRM. Too many small ebookstores have disappeared to risk losing all their books again.
People who read ebooks have a slight tendency to be on the savvy side anyway.

As a reader, DRM is either never going to be noticed/challenged/have any meaningful effect (people who read a book once, and are anyway scared of the word "file"),
or else it will be regarded as an irritant, preventing me from using my purchase how I see fit (Adobe DRM means I cannot use it on my Kindle

for example) and something to strip, remove, set on fire as fast as humanly possible.

ebook DRM should not exist (except in the case of library loans/subscription services) and frankly neither should DRM on any other form of purchased media.

Doitsu · 01-29-2015, 05:32 AM

@Atarian: You can't create ADEPT DRM protected ePubs with ADE/RMDSK; you can only download ADEPT DRM protected ePubs with these apps. If you wanted to mimic the behavior of ADE, you'd have reverse-engineer the code by analyzing the data exchange between ADE/RMSDK and the content server with Wireshark.

Note that if you want to sell ADEPT DRM protected ePubs, you'll need to buy a Adobe Content Server license and setup a dedicated server.

01-26-2015, 07:36 AM	#1
Atarian Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Programmatically wrapping acsm files with DRM, no ADE GUI! Hi all, calling ADE and other Adobe stuff experts! I'm trying to find a way to automatically wrap Adobe's DRM on acsm files without the user having to go through ADE. Our application would take care of syncing the resulting ePUB or PDF with the eReader. We are thinking of several options, but not sure if some are possible: a) run ADE in line command mode at our backend, passing user's Adobe ID as parameters, together source and target file locations. Would that be possible at all? Could' find any info on using command line with ADE, although we have seen it does indeed support receiving the source file path as parameter. b) somehow use some the dll's included with ADE to run our own app; got no info on those dll's though so no idea how could (if) they can be used from our code. c) license Adobe's RMDSK, which we understand includes all the necessary code. However this would be an expensive overkill as we have no need for most of the functionality it provides (we're not creating a reading app, just need to process the acsm and get the resulting, DRM wrapped ePUB) Anyone with some experience in this area who can help? Thanks beforehand! Last edited by Atarian; 01-26-2015 at 07:40 AM.

01-26-2015, 08:57 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Only Adobe has the necessary software to create ADEPT-encypted ebooks. This will not change unless Adobe suddenly decides they want people to use their DRM system for absolutely free... There is no command-line mode to ADE. What it can do, is act as an Open With option for filetypes it knows how to... open. Adobe isn't completely and utterly stupid. They created the system to sell RMSDK, they aren't going to allow just anyone to use it with "the command-line". That being said, why bother with the DRM anyway? It doesn't prevent piracy (pirates just download all the pirated books already out there, or exploit the analog loophole and screenshot it then use OCR) and the DRM will be cracked the very instant it becomes popular enough that a noticeable number of people buy books using it. Case in point -- Adobe DRM has been cracked for years, with no change in status. So is Amazon's homegrown DRM. Apple spends a tremendous amount of money fighting with program updates to control their ecosystem, and also no one really buys Apple iBooks. No one has felt it worthwhile enough to crack. Kobo DRM was broken. B&N DRM was broken. The four most popular DRM schemes have all been broken for so long that people have virtually never been NOT able to remove it. Many consumers will refuse to buy an ebook unless they can strip the DRM. Too many small ebookstores have disappeared to risk losing all their books again. People who read ebooks have a slight tendency to be on the savvy side anyway. As a reader, DRM is either never going to be noticed/challenged/have any meaningful effect (people who read a book once, and are anyway scared of the word "file"), or else it will be regarded as an irritant, preventing me from using my purchase how I see fit (Adobe DRM means I cannot use it on my Kindle for example) and something to strip, remove, set on fire as fast as humanly possible. ebook DRM should not exist (except in the case of library loans/subscription services) and frankly neither should DRM on any other form of purchased media. Last edited by eschwartz; 01-26-2015 at 09:01 PM.

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01-29-2015, 05:32 AM	#3
Doitsu Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,583 Karma: 22735033 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle PW2	@Atarian: You can't create ADEPT DRM protected ePubs with ADE/RMDSK; you can only download ADEPT DRM protected ePubs with these apps. If you wanted to mimic the behavior of ADE, you'd have reverse-engineer the code by analyzing the data exchange between ADE/RMSDK and the content server with Wireshark. Note that if you want to sell ADEPT DRM protected ePubs, you'll need to buy a Adobe Content Server license and setup a dedicated server.