non-DRMed PRC books identifed as having DRM

modkindle · 05-01-2010, 08:37 PM

I have a few PRC books that were free files and did not require/ask for a PID when downloaded. When trying to convert to EPUB Calibre says the files are DRMed. Has anyone else run into this problem? (I didn't see anything in a search of the forum as far back as January). Any ideas how to fix?

Thanks.

kovidgoyal · 05-01-2010, 08:58 PM

these are so called content encoded files. They are drmed though mobipocket reader will open them automatically.

modkindle · 05-01-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

these are so called content encoded files. They are drmed though mobipocket reader will open them automatically.

Thanks Kovid! I really appreciate you not ust sharing Calibre with us but your knowledge and expertise. I had never heard of this type of DRM before. Kindle for PC opens them automatically too.

Do you know if "content encoded" drm exists for epub too?

kovidgoyal · 05-01-2010, 09:11 PM

No, it doesn't

wallcraft · 05-02-2010, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

these are so called content encoded files. They are drmed though mobipocket reader will open them automatically.

These used to require a manually modified version of mobidedrm,py, but the comments in a recent mobidedrm.py script indicate that content encoded ebooks are handled automatically since version 0.10.

MaryK · 05-03-2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modkindle

I have a few PRC books that were free files and did not require/ask for a PID when downloaded. When trying to convert to EPUB Calibre says the files are DRMed.

I'm having the same problem except I bought my PRCs from a supposedly DRM-free epress. I can copy them all over the place, but they won't convert. Very frustrating.

Worldwalker · 05-03-2010, 03:49 AM

Who's the supposedly DRM-free vendor, so I don't have the same problem?

MaryK · 05-03-2010, 08:08 PM

Ellora's Cave. They're old files, maybe they've changed how they make their files. I don't plan to test the possibility.

Clytie · 05-04-2010, 08:12 AM

I don't think this has changed. I bought several ebooks from Ellora's Cave on 2010-02-25, and ended up with three PRC files I can't convert. I asked them about it, and they said the files should be fine. Now I know someone else has had the same problem, I'll look into it more when I have a chance.

Clytie · 05-26-2010, 04:58 AM

MaryK, I've been following this up with Ellora's Cave. They also say that these are probably an older .mobi format, designed to be read on your computer (not much use if you have a Mac or Linux machine, since Mobipocket Reader isn't released for them). They sent me a fresh copy of each of the three ebooks, which still wouldn't open. Stanza puts up an error message:

Kindle for Mac just crashes, and Calibre claimes the books are DRM, although scripts say it's the wrong format for DRM.

Ellora's Cave say they're happy to supply PDF or HTML versions of these unopenable purchased books, so I've asked them to do that. You could also request that. You've paid for the books and should be able to read them.

itimpi · 05-26-2010, 07:25 AM

The Java error from Stanza is standard for a DRM protected book which suggests that Stanza thinks it is DRM protected as well.

I would suggest that the HTML version is the best format to have as that tends to convert well to any other format (and also will not be DRM protected).

05-01-2010, 08:37 PM	#1
modkindle Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: kindle	non-DRMed PRC books identifed as having DRM I have a few PRC books that were free files and did not require/ask for a PID when downloaded. When trying to convert to EPUB Calibre says the files are DRMed. Has anyone else run into this problem? (I didn't see anything in a search of the forum as far back as January). Any ideas how to fix? Thanks.

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05-01-2010, 08:58 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,866 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	these are so called content encoded files. They are drmed though mobipocket reader will open them automatically.

05-01-2010, 09:11 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,866 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	No, it doesn't

05-03-2010, 03:49 AM	#7
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	Who's the supposedly DRM-free vendor, so I don't have the same problem?

05-03-2010, 08:08 PM	#8
MaryK Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Location: United States, La. Device: Sony 505	Ellora's Cave. They're old files, maybe they've changed how they make their files. I don't plan to test the possibility.

05-04-2010, 08:12 AM	#9
Clytie Bookworm Posts: 62 Karma: 2200 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Australia Device: iPad2	I don't think this has changed. I bought several ebooks from Ellora's Cave on 2010-02-25, and ended up with three PRC files I can't convert. I asked them about it, and they said the files should be fine. Now I know someone else has had the same problem, I'll look into it more when I have a chance.

05-26-2010, 04:58 AM	#10
Clytie Bookworm Posts: 62 Karma: 2200 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Australia Device: iPad2	MaryK, I've been following this up with Ellora's Cave. They also say that these are probably an older .mobi format, designed to be read on your computer (not much use if you have a Mac or Linux machine, since Mobipocket Reader isn't released for them). They sent me a fresh copy of each of the three ebooks, which still wouldn't open. Stanza puts up an error message: Kindle for Mac just crashes, and Calibre claimes the books are DRM, although scripts say it's the wrong format for DRM. Ellora's Cave say they're happy to supply PDF or HTML versions of these unopenable purchased books, so I've asked them to do that. You could also request that. You've paid for the books and should be able to read them.

05-26-2010, 07:25 AM	#11
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	The Java error from Stanza is standard for a DRM protected book which suggests that Stanza thinks it is DRM protected as well. I would suggest that the HTML version is the best format to have as that tends to convert well to any other format (and also will not be DRM protected).