Amazon Insists on DRM for Mobipocket eBooks

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Does using the dtp mean you are exclusive? Is there a rule that if you submit your book to Amazon to sell in the kindle store, you can't also sell on your own web site? I assume there is not considering the Mr. Jordan sold his books both in the Kindle store and on his own web site.

BOb

According to the T&C found here. you are not required to give them exclusivity when you publish through DTP:

4. Pricing and Program Terms. As part of your Application, you will provide us with a suggested retail price for each Title (“Suggested Retail Price” or “SRP”). The Suggested Retail Price you provide to Amazon must be consistent with the SRP you have provided to other retailers and wholesalers.

However it also appears that you do not have final say over whether or not DRM is used.

10. Technology. You acknowledge that we will be entitled to utilize DRM technology in connection with the distribution of Digital Books but are not obligated to do so. Accordingly, there may be no technology or other limitation imposed by us on copying or transfer of any Digital Book we distribute.

That puts them in the DRM driver's seat.

If I read this correctly you can distribute to the Kindle without DRM, but there's no guarantee it will stay that way as DRM usage is entirely at Amazon's discretion.

[JSWolf]

The issue at hand is that there may very well be two different standards from Amazon. If they allow DTP submissions to be DRM free and sold that way, why not make Mobipocket submissions option as well? Is Amazon saying that they don't trust anyone without a Kindle? Amazon needs to sort out the DRM issue and do it the same way for both the Kindle and Mobipocket.

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The issue at hand is that there may very well be two different standards from Amazon. If they allow DTP submissions to be DRM free and sold that way, why not make Mobipocket submissions option as well? Is Amazon saying that they don't trust anyone without a Kindle? [boldface mine] Amazon needs to sort out the DRM issue and do it the same way for both the Kindle and Mobipocket.

You may be onto something there. The Kindle--for the average user--is effectively its own DRM.

The other question is why Amazon apparently requires publishers to submit via mobipocket.com. Maybe they have a different setup there for processing the files.