DRM removal plugin for Calibre

[thinkpad]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Some in the comments said that all the publicity could spell the end of Apprentice Alf. Thoughts?
eP

To answer your question:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117117

After some thought, I have decided to retire.

[JLYates]

Something that I don't understand, if it is supposed to be illegal, then why is there software being sold to help remove DRM?

I was doing some checking as I am seriously considering it, I bought some books online, not knowning that they were DRM'd. I thought they were DRM free, as one said epub and the others were Adobe.

Anyhow, there is software being sold, I have seen two different types offered. So, what is going to happen there? Those businesses will be shut down? Charges brought against them?

I am just getting confused about DRM and ADOBE and ADE, if you have to download ADE to install a book, doesn't that mean it is DRM'd? And isn't Calibre unable to process DRM books? So, if I have to download ADE to be able to put books on my reader (Sony 900), doesn't that mean the books are DRM books and doesn't that mean I can't use Calibre? Therefore, I have to strip the books to be able to read them, right?

I have been bouncing from thread to thread, reading all the posts trying to understand this.
And I am getting more confused than straightened out.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by JLYates

I am just getting confused about DRM and ADOBE and ADE, if you have to download ADE to install a book, doesn't that mean it is DRM'd? And isn't Calibre unable to process DRM books? So, if I have to download ADE to be able to put books on my reader (Sony 900), doesn't that mean the books are DRM books and doesn't that mean I can't use Calibre? Therefore, I have to strip the books to be able to read them, right?

Calibre can add DRMed ebooks to its catalog and manage them, e.g. extract their metadata and copy them to an ebook Reader for you. What it can't do is format shift them or display them or allow you to edit them (e.g. fix typos).

Since DRM will always screw you in the end, it is best to remove it immediately. Then you can use the full range of Calibre's capabilities and will never have a problem migrating to a new ebook reader. With the plugins, stripping DRM is almost completely painless.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by JLYates

Something that I don't understand, if it is supposed to be illegal, then why is there software being sold to help remove DRM?

I was doing some checking as I am seriously considering it, I bought some books online, not knowning that they were DRM'd. I thought they were DRM free, as one said epub and the others were Adobe.

Anyhow, there is software being sold, I have seen two different types offered. So, what is going to happen there? Those businesses will be shut down? Charges brought against them?

I am just getting confused about DRM and ADOBE and ADE, if you have to download ADE to install a book, doesn't that mean it is DRM'd? And isn't Calibre unable to process DRM books? So, if I have to download ADE to be able to put books on my reader (Sony 900), doesn't that mean the books are DRM books and doesn't that mean I can't use Calibre? Therefore, I have to strip the books to be able to read them, right?

I have been bouncing from thread to thread, reading all the posts trying to understand this.
And I am getting more confused than straightened out.

Yes, if you are required to open the book with ADE, that's "DRM". As explained, Calibre is of very limited use in dealing with those, in terms of editing them (adding missing cover art, for example). You do not need Calibre to actually read them.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by JLYates

Something that I don't understand, if it is supposed to be illegal, then why is there software being sold to help remove DRM?

My brother sells drugs, even though it's illegal. Oh, he's spent some time in jail for it, but he still sells a lot more of it that he gets caught selling!

People will sell whatever they think they can sell.

And - the laws are not consistent world-wide. The sellers may be in countries that don't have DMCA laws?

[FF2]

YLYates:

With tools, Calibre can help you even with drm books. You need to close your eyes and mediate on the phrase "apprentice alf blog" and a bit of googling always clears the head for meditation of this sort.

[JLYates]

okay,
so, am I right in this: The books I bought that are DRM'd; I save on my hard drive, learn how to strip them, do so and then send them to Calibre. Each book has to be stripped individually.

Do I do the .ascm (not sure I have that right) first? Or is that part of the ADE? Right now they are in my email, where they were sent to. I figure they are safe there (I hope) it has been two days since I purchased them.

I know that I have to go elsewhere rather than here to find out how to strip, but I want to make sure what I do before I start to do that, that I do it correctly, going from my email to the hard drive to wherever it is next, before I do the stripping (clear as mud?). Can that be answered here? I don't want to break any rules here concerning DRM.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by JLYates

okay,
so, am I right in this: The books I bought that are DRM'd; I save on my hard drive, learn how to strip them, do so and then send them to Calibre. Each book has to be stripped individually.

Do I do the .ascm (not sure I have that right) first? Or is that part of the ADE? Right now they are in my email, where they were sent to. I figure they are safe there (I hope) it has been two days since I purchased them.

I know that I have to go elsewhere rather than here to find out how to strip, but I want to make sure what I do before I start to do that, that I do it correctly, going from my email to the hard drive to wherever it is next, before I do the stripping (clear as mud?). Can that be answered here? I don't want to break any rules here concerning DRM.

No, they do not have to be done individually - if you have more than one, you can batch them.

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by JLYates

I know that I have to go elsewhere rather than here to find out how to strip, but I want to make sure what I do before I start to do that, that I do it correctly, going from my email to the hard drive to wherever it is next, before I do the stripping (clear as mud?). Can that be answered here? I don't want to break any rules here concerning DRM.

As the title of the thread suggests, there are DRM removal plugins for Calibre. Once you have them installed and configured (they come with instructions) you can simply import the DRM "protected" (misnomer!) book into Calibre and the DRM will be automagically removed.

Not that I would know anything about removing DRM, of course. Nor where to find such tools to do so, of course. Google is the answer to all questions.

[FF2]

The .ascm is merely a ticket (tiny pointer file, as it were) that is used with the ade reader to actually get the book. That must be done before proceeding. You need to be able to read the book on your computer.

[JLYates]

okay,

Thanks eveyone for the help. I think I understand it better now. Now off to find that special item that I need, VBG

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

I would have understood the drama more if I had known you are a lawyer. I have nothing against them, as I have two family members who are attorneys, just saying they tend to blow things up a little ... my family members, I mean.

My husband says the same thing . . . I don't get it. He is not a lawyer, and I think we are an example of opposites attracting. He always thinks everything will be alright - I always see the end of the world.

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

What I do fail to understand is: When you are so concerned, why do you discuss it ad infinitum in this board now. Even if I had not known before there is something, err, let's call it legally questionable, you'd have me made more than aware with your lamenting in two different threads.

Do you really think this helps?

Cat out of the bag, horse out of the barn, . . . Where are all those smilies?

I feel bad for AA. And I think we all must accept our part in it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I feel bad for AA. And I think we all must accept our part in it.

I think Alf must have wanted to share the tools with lots of people, otherwise why create the blog?

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I think Alf must have wanted to share the tools with lots of people, otherwise why create the blog?

Agreed. Everyone on this forum, and everywhere else, has been so kind with their knowledge. They have increased my enjoyment of my ereader 100times. We have discussed the morality and legality of these tools endlessly. I just feel bad that we caused AA some worry. I heart Cabbages was wonderful (he went WAY out of his way to help me in the beginning - I'm not very computer literate) and then he disappeared. In return, I have tried in my own bumbling way to provide assistance to others. I guess I am really angry at boingboing - why did they have to publicise this? If I can find MR and get help to figure this out, anyone can.

Oh well. What is done is done.