Adobe ePub DRM cracked?

[Alexander Turcic]

Rumors popped up today claiming that by using the right Python-based tools, it's now possible to strip the DRM from protected Adobe ePub e-books. Note from the cracker:

By way of a concrete reverse-engineering contribution, I have successfully circumvented Adobe's ADEPT DRM scheme for EPUB files. The same circumvention probably also allows decryption of ADEPT-encrypted PDF files, although I haven't looked into it yet... And on a preachy note, please don't be a jerk with these. DRM is bad, but piracy is wrong kids, and only validates the opinions of those who think they need DRM in the first place.

Of course we have no way of verifying whether this is the real deal - and it's safe to say that removing DRM is illegal in at least some countries - so folks, you're warned.

[zelda_pinwheel]

yeah baby ! now i can finally buy epub books instead of lit !!! this makes me really happy.

for my next wish, i would like the total abolition of drm of all forms. :closeseyesandconcentratesmentalpowers:

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yeah baby ! now i can finally buy epub books instead of lit !!! this makes me really happy.

for my next wish, i would like the total abolition of drm of all forms. :closeseyesandconcentratesmentalpowers:

I second that emotion! Wasn't this posted here earlier, here's a link to the blog post http://i-u2665-cabbages.blogspot.com...1_archive.html

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I second that emotion!

Wasn't this posted here earlier, here's a link to the blog post

yes but now it's on the front page.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes but now it's on the front page.

Ahh, lol! I should get new glasses

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Of course we have no way of verifying whether this is the real deal - and it's safe to say that removing DRM is illegal in at least some countries - so folks, you're warned.

It is the real deal. I've done it and it works.

[TadW]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It is the real deal. I've done it and it works.

Kinda scary. What is Adobe going to do now? Or Sony, who has a big exposure with ePub books in Europe... you know, most European publishers are against e-books to begin with. This development is certainly not going to change their minds...

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by TadW

Kinda scary. What is Adobe going to do now? Or Sony, who has a big exposure with ePub books in Europe... you know, most European publishers are against e-books to begin with. This development is certainly not going to change their minds...

hopefully, they will finally get a clue, and drop drm altogether. like panmacmillan. and o'reilly. and baen.

alternately, they will think "pff, whatever, the overwhelming majority of our customers are too stupid / computer illiterate to do this, we'll just pretend we don't know."

alternately alternately, they'll modify the drm, which will then be re-cracked. rinse, repeat.

cross your fingers it's the first option.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by TadW

Kinda scary. What is Adobe going to do now? Or Sony, who has a big exposure with ePub books in Europe... you know, most European publishers are against e-books to begin with. This development is certainly not going to change their minds...

Hopefully the will figure out what music publishers and "most" software publishers have figured out. That copy protection doesn't protect anything and it just upsets and discourages users.

I wish I could convince the place I work for of this. I have been trying to get them to drop the DRM on our software for quite a while now. If you look at the number of support calls and time we spend managing this... It is costing us money not gaining us revenue.

BOb

[TadW]

You guys saw this thread didn't you?

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37774

I don't think they have learned... nor will they.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by TadW

You guys saw this thread didn't you?

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37774

I don't think they have learned... nor will they.

meh... maybe the ones that won't / can't learn will be replaced, instead.

[Sonist]

"It's the price, stupid!" as Carville used to say.

If the price is right, the majority of consumers will purchase the product, rather than go through the hassle of pirating it. iTunes became the biggest music seller in the world, because Apple held its ground on pricing.

Most would buy an e-book for $0.99, even if it's available for free, but requires a small effort. Most would look for a pirated copy, if it was sold for $1,000.

Publishers have to find the right medium (hint, it's not at the price of a paper book.) If they charge too much, or don't release in e-book format, many of those who would have bought a copy, would find another way.

It's rather simple, really.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Sonist

"It's the price, stupid!" as Carville used to say.

If the price is right, the majority of consumers will purchase the product, rather than go through the hassle of pirating it. iTunes became the biggest music seller in the world, because Apple held its ground on pricing.

Most would buy an e-book for $0.99, even if it's available for free, but requires a small effort. Most would look for a pirated copy, if it was sold for $1,000.

Publishers have to find the right medium (hint, it's not at the price of a paper book.)

Couldn't agree more. The books have to be at a price that will cause nothing but a momentary pause, followed by a shrug of the shoulders in the prospective reader. A low price means you haven't lost much if you don't end up liking the book. Unlike the nearly twenty pounds I spent on the hardback of Stephen King's Lisey's Story, which left me feeling angry after I'd actually read the book (as you can tell I didn't much care for that novel at all).

[JSWolf]

If eBooks are priced the same or close enough to the cost of the paper edition, then peple will look at that and also look at the cost of the reader and say "Why spend about $300 for a device to then buy eBooks that cost what the pBooks cost? This thing was supposed to save me enough money to eventually have paid for itself. But since it's not, I'll stick with pBooks." So what it is is a lose lose situation that the publishers are causing with insane pricing.

I am getting a bit sick and tired of having to email the eBook shops to tell them the prices are out of proportion with the current pBook edition.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If eBooks are priced the same or close enough to the cost of the paper edition, then peple will look at that and also look at the cost of the reader and say "Why spend about $300 for a device to then buy eBooks that cost what the pBooks cost? This thing was supposed to save me enough money to eventually have paid for itself. But since it's not, I'll stick with pBooks." So what it is is a lose lose situation that the publishers are causing with insane pricing.

I am getting a bit sick and tired of having to email the eBook shops to tell them the prices are out of proportion with the current pBook edition.

From another point of view:

There are so many wonderful books by out of copyright authors that are free.

And, don't forget.........you can download and read your library books.