How do you feel about DRM? - Page 2

Synamon · 02-06-2012, 04:44 PM

DRM fails to prevent piracy and is an unnecessary restriction on fair use. I strip it the minute I purchase a book, and I worry that tomorrow things will change and I won't be able to strip it.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-06-2012, 04:51 PM

DRM, in theory, is a potentially useful and effective tool against theft. However, since today's ebook DRM doesn't work, it is neither useful nor effective.

latepaul · 02-06-2012, 05:04 PM

The problem with DRM is that it can't ever really work. Whatever can be viewed can be copied.

All you can ever really do is irritate legitimate users and slow down unauthorised copiers a bit.

The thing about digital media is that if you try to use some technical means to make it hard to copy, you're only making it hard to make the first copy.

fjtorres · 02-06-2012, 05:07 PM

Current DRM is a minor annoyance to those that care about it.
The masses don't care.
Those that care also know to avoid it or remove it.
That basically makes it irrelevant.

Pomtroll · 02-06-2012, 05:12 PM

I don't think it's evil but it should be done away with.

tubemonkey · 02-06-2012, 05:18 PM

I don't care one way or the other about DRM. It doesn't hinder my reading.

spindlegirl · 02-06-2012, 05:29 PM

I wish that DRM removal could be obvious for Linux users. I've found some work arounds under wine, but I find that blog that we're all supposed to google confusing, which leads to dead links, and simply saying "Linux users will find it easy to change the code to plug in"... well, no.

QuantumIguana · 02-06-2012, 05:39 PM

The only way that DRM could work is if the book was unreadable by human eyes. Of course, then it wouldn't be of any use to anyone. If I wanted to, I could take advantage of the analog hole, and put the e-reader on a scanner, or take repeated snapshots of my computer screen. Run an OCR on these scanned images, and I would have the book.

It might delay the book getting on the torrent sites by a day perhaps one day.

carpetmojo · 02-06-2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozric

I wouldn't say that DRM is "evil," but I do think it should be done away with entirely.

Me agree.

Do they think they'll make me buy a kindle?

Actually, the old myth peddled by Amazon etc.. that DRM is an anti-piracy measure is surely rubbish. You can load it onto your computer with, for example, K4PC - available free from them - and there you have it, do what you want with it - can't you ? Pirate away......

CazMar · 02-06-2012, 06:05 PM

Yes, pathetic is how I would describe it too. I think it just encourages people to pirate because it irritates them. These days I only buy non-DRM music and books. This way I can store them and re-use on any new computer or device as I see fit. Just like I can read my old p-books or listen to CD's. Because I "own" them I tend to value them more and keep them for use only in our household and I also feel much more "brand loyalty" to the places where I buy them.

Katsunami · 02-06-2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

I wish that DRM removal could be obvious for Linux users. I've found some work arounds under wine, but I find that blog that we're all supposed to google confusing, which leads to dead links, and simply saying "Linux users will find it easy to change the code to plug in"... well, no.

Strange, isn't it? Those open source de-drm tools are all written using other open source tools (python, etc), leaning on open source software (calibre), but many of them don't work in Linux because often you have to have a Windows-only reader installed.

Therefore, drm in this case forces me to have a Windows (or maybe a Mac) computer at hand, or I won't be able to read my books. That in itself makes drm evil, as it prevents me to use my OS of choice. (And not only drm.... Many other software packages that I *need* for which there is no alternative force me to keep using Windows. I don't have any problems with Windows, but I like the Unix/Linux philosophy better.)

spindlegirl · 02-06-2012, 07:23 PM

Well, not knowing how to remove DRM isn't something I worry too much about right now. I figure eventually the time will come if I need to. I have a bunch of Kobo free books that I was able to still download on my Sony reader and that works for now.

fjtorres · 02-06-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Strange, isn't it? Those open source de-drm tools are all written using other open source tools (python, etc), leaning on open source software (calibre), but many of them don't work in Linux because often you have to have a Windows-only reader installed.

In most cases that is how the DRM was circumvented: by working with a legally-purchased ebook running in the appropriate reading app.

And since Linux has a bit of a shortage of commercial reading apps there isn't much for the scripts to work with to secure the keys.

Katsunami · 02-06-2012, 07:53 PM

Yes, and therefore, the implemented drm forces me to use a certain application to get the book onto my reader, which in turn forces me to use Windows. (Or a Mac, which is *completely* out of the question.)

HansTWN · 02-06-2012, 08:15 PM

DRM obviously doesn't stop pirates. It is a pretty useless pain in the you-know-what that annoys paying customers. I wouldn't be buying ebooks if I could not remove it, but since I can I am not getting all upset about it.

I have always felt that watermarking was the right way to protect ebooks.

View Poll Results: How do you feel about DRM?
DRM doesn't bother me. As long as I can read a book on a computer I don't care.	18	6.41%
DRM is evil and should be done away with entirely.	200	71.17%
Quit whining about DRM, it's a dead horse.	13	4.63%
If DRM were a dead horse, DRM would be dead.	9	3.20%
DRM is a useful tool that prevents piracy.	4	1.42%
Some other option not thought of for this poll	37	13.17%
Voters: 281. You may not vote on this poll

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02-06-2012, 04:44 PM	#16
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	DRM fails to prevent piracy and is an unnecessary restriction on fair use. I strip it the minute I purchase a book, and I worry that tomorrow things will change and I won't be able to strip it.

02-06-2012, 04:51 PM	#17
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	DRM, in theory, is a potentially useful and effective tool against theft. However, since today's ebook DRM doesn't work, it is neither useful nor effective.

02-06-2012, 05:04 PM	#18
latepaul Wizard Posts: 1,264 Karma: 10203040 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: a variety (mostly kindles and kobos)	The problem with DRM is that it can't ever really work. Whatever can be viewed can be copied. All you can ever really do is irritate legitimate users and slow down unauthorised copiers a bit. The thing about digital media is that if you try to use some technical means to make it hard to copy, you're only making it hard to make the first copy.

02-06-2012, 05:07 PM	#19
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Current DRM is a minor annoyance to those that care about it. The masses don't care. Those that care also know to avoid it or remove it. That basically makes it irrelevant.

02-06-2012, 05:12 PM	#20
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I don't think it's evil but it should be done away with.

02-06-2012, 05:18 PM	#21
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I don't care one way or the other about DRM. It doesn't hinder my reading.

02-06-2012, 05:29 PM	#22
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	I wish that DRM removal could be obvious for Linux users. I've found some work arounds under wine, but I find that blog that we're all supposed to google confusing, which leads to dead links, and simply saying "Linux users will find it easy to change the code to plug in"... well, no.

02-06-2012, 05:39 PM	#23
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	The only way that DRM could work is if the book was unreadable by human eyes. Of course, then it wouldn't be of any use to anyone. If I wanted to, I could take advantage of the analog hole, and put the e-reader on a scanner, or take repeated snapshots of my computer screen. Run an OCR on these scanned images, and I would have the book. It might delay the book getting on the torrent sites by a day perhaps one day.

02-06-2012, 06:05 PM	#25
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	Yes, pathetic is how I would describe it too. I think it just encourages people to pirate because it irritates them. These days I only buy non-DRM music and books. This way I can store them and re-use on any new computer or device as I see fit. Just like I can read my old p-books or listen to CD's. Because I "own" them I tend to value them more and keep them for use only in our household and I also feel much more "brand loyalty" to the places where I buy them.

02-06-2012, 07:23 PM	#27
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	Well, not knowing how to remove DRM isn't something I worry too much about right now. I figure eventually the time will come if I need to. I have a bunch of Kobo free books that I was able to still download on my Sony reader and that works for now.

02-06-2012, 07:53 PM	#29
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Yes, and therefore, the implemented drm forces me to use a certain application to get the book onto my reader, which in turn forces me to use Windows. (Or a Mac, which is completely out of the question.)

02-06-2012, 08:15 PM	#30
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	DRM obviously doesn't stop pirates. It is a pretty useless pain in the you-know-what that annoys paying customers. I wouldn't be buying ebooks if I could not remove it, but since I can I am not getting all upset about it. I have always felt that watermarking was the right way to protect ebooks.