Are DRM books with check in/check out allowed?

i8abug · 05-30-2012, 12:24 PM

Hi,

I am interested in setting up a library for technical books at work. I would like to be able to buy ebooks and then have them available in my office for users to check in/check out. It should be just like physical books (so once a book is checked out, it is not available to other users).

1) Is this legal?
2)Is this possible with Calibre?

Thanks

theducks · 05-30-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i8abug

Hi,

I am interested in setting up a library for technical books at work. I would like to be able to buy ebooks and then have them available in my office for users to check in/check out. It should be just like physical books (so once a book is checked out, it is not available to other users).

1) Is this legal?
2)Is this possible with Calibre?

Thanks

Welcome to MR

1) books with DRM can only be read on registered devices (there is a limited count). Removing the DRM is questionable in many countries. Having multiple uncontrolled

copies is almost always illegal.

Get a bunch of registered readers, and lend one of the ones that the book works with (careful account<->book assignment planning needed if 4 or more be needed)

2) Calibre does not have a check in-out option.

kovidgoyal · 05-30-2012, 12:39 PM

1) you'd have to ask a lawyer

2) Not out of the box, but it would be a relatively simple patch to the calibre content server code to have this kind of functionality. Basically you'd maintain a list of "checked out" books and not have an error message when the user tries to get it from the server. You'd also have to write an interface to "return" the book. But be aware that this system has no way of preventing someone who checks out a book from copying it.

i8abug · 05-30-2012, 01:28 PM

Thank you for the responses. It might be possible to do a patch but probably more effort than it is worth. I'm going see if I can find another solution.

marvin_2 · 05-31-2012, 02:27 PM

As long as you don't mind linking several Kindles/Kindle apps to the same account, you should be able to share books across them. If you charge the account with vouchers instead of linking it to a credit card, you'd be safe from users going on a spending spree.
1. No need to touch DRM, you can use Calibre for managing (but not converting) the books, people can either borrow kindle devices loaded with the entire library (or part of it), or load books into Kindle apps.
2. Amazon support should be able to confirm that this works, and they'll be able to tell you how many devices/apps you can link to the same account
3. It might work with other DRM/Reader combinations as well, you'd have to check with the vendors
4. In my experience, Kindles (possibly eReaders in general) are great for reading books front to end, but don't work well with technical books - flipping backwards and forwards to re-read definitions etc is lousy, diagrams and drawings don't look great.

05-30-2012, 12:24 PM	#1
i8abug Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: none	Are DRM books with check in/check out allowed? Hi, I am interested in setting up a library for technical books at work. I would like to be able to buy ebooks and then have them available in my office for users to check in/check out. It should be just like physical books (so once a book is checked out, it is not available to other users). 1) Is this legal? 2)Is this possible with Calibre? Thanks

05-30-2012, 12:39 PM	#3
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre Posts: 22,660 Karma: 3473290 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	1) you'd have to ask a lawyer 2) Not out of the box, but it would be a relatively simple patch to the calibre content server code to have this kind of functionality. Basically you'd maintain a list of "checked out" books and not have an error message when the user tries to get it from the server. You'd also have to write an interface to "return" the book. But be aware that this system has no way of preventing someone who checks out a book from copying it. __________________ Get calibre Notice to all: I can not provide assistance with DRM removal, for legal reasons, so please do not contact me about it.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DRM Check: Find out what DRM that ebook has got.	pdurrant	Workshop	22	06-12-2013 05:12 AM
Check Kindle eBook DRM	Big McLargeHuge	Amazon Kindle	54	03-25-2012 02:26 AM
Is there a way to check number of books sold?	gollu	General Discussions	0	12-21-2010 02:13 PM
Check off readed books	London Mode	Calibre	8	12-30-2009 05:11 AM
Check out my books	HistoryWes	Amazon Kindle	5	02-20-2009 06:57 PM

05-30-2012, 01:28 PM	#4
i8abug Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: none	Thank you for the responses. It might be possible to do a patch but probably more effort than it is worth. I'm going see if I can find another solution.

05-31-2012, 02:27 PM	#5
marvin_2 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 68 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	As long as you don't mind linking several Kindles/Kindle apps to the same account, you should be able to share books across them. If you charge the account with vouchers instead of linking it to a credit card, you'd be safe from users going on a spending spree. 1. No need to touch DRM, you can use Calibre for managing (but not converting) the books, people can either borrow kindle devices loaded with the entire library (or part of it), or load books into Kindle apps. 2. Amazon support should be able to confirm that this works, and they'll be able to tell you how many devices/apps you can link to the same account 3. It might work with other DRM/Reader combinations as well, you'd have to check with the vendors 4. In my experience, Kindles (possibly eReaders in general) are great for reading books front to end, but don't work well with technical books - flipping backwards and forwards to re-read definitions etc is lousy, diagrams and drawings don't look great.


Advertisement Enthusiast