Amazon uses DMCA to restrict where you can buy e-books

Alexander Turcic · 03-12-2009, 11:30 AM

As some of you may already know, this week we received a DMCA take-down notice from Amazon requesting the removal of the tool kindlepid.py and instructions associated with it. Although we never hosted this tool (contrary to their claim), nor believe that this tool is used to remove technological measures (contrary to their claim), we decided, due to the vagueness of the DMCA law and our intention to remain in good relation with Amazon, to voluntarily follow their request and remove links and detailed instructions related to it.

A quick backgrounder: kindlepid.py is a small Python script allowing you to derive a Mobipocket-compatible personal identifier (PID) for your Kindle reader. This PID in itself has nothing at all to do with reading any copyrighted content. It is only used to make legitimate e-book purchases at stores other than Amazon's.

We believe in the freedom of speech and we encourage you to continue expressing your views and thoughts on tools like kindlepid.py. We only ask you not to provide any how-to instructions, source codes and/or links for obtaining kindlepid.py.

We would like to remind you to apply common sense when using the private message system, and not to use it for sharing information how to obtain or use kindlepid.py. We stress that we respect your privacy and that we do not monitor private messages.

Lastly, I would like to ask you for assistance and to contact us - using the report post feature for example - should you detect content that might not follow the guideline above.

Thank you for your understanding!

Alexander

Nate the great · 03-12-2009, 11:38 AM

Even though our servers are in Canada, and the site owner is in Switzerland, we still removed the material.

CCDMan · 03-12-2009, 11:43 AM

I am amazed at how companies think they can keep folks from finding this kind of information by issuing takedowns. Legal or illegal, trying to stamp out anything that can be placed on the web is like playing bop-a-mole. Apparently no one at Amazon has ever used Google.

What is even more stupid about this is that the actual content under discussion is all quite legal. Only Amazon has any potential to suffer and very little at that. It is interesting that they do not complain about NON DRM books that are available in mobi. like public domain and BAEN.

This would seem to encourage other providers to enable their books on other devices wherever possible or come out with their own device (in fact, more rumors of an Apple device as of yesterday). Pretty shortsighted, as I am sure time will tell....

zelda_pinwheel · 03-12-2009, 11:44 AM

i think it's particularly ironic that they should attack MobileRead the same week that we gave away a free Kindle in a contest.

DixieGal · 03-12-2009, 11:45 AM

That is very rude of Amazon. I'm disappointed in them.

JSWolf · 03-12-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Even though our servers are in Canada, and the site owner is in Switzerland, we still removed the material.

I feel they are so wrong. What this script does is make the Kindle more useful. With Amazon using the DMCA to get rid of this, they are alienating their customers and causing prospective customers to purchase a different device. I know I wanted to win a K2. But because of what Amazon has done, I'd be selling the K2 had I won and saving the money to purchase a new reader with a larger screen.

Sorry Amazon, but what you are doing leaves a bad taste.

Flub · 03-12-2009, 11:51 AM

The funny part is that many people like me will never have even heard of the script until Amazon made a fuss about it. I found it with a simple google search. Same with how-to instructions.

Is that really what you wanted Amazon? (not that it makes any difference in my case. You can't even download the iPhone app in the UK).

Gaurnim · 03-12-2009, 11:52 AM

Well, they are only doing the most part of their business on the Web, why should we expect them to understand the Web, after all ....

JSWolf · 03-12-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

Well, they are only a big web store, why should we expect them to understand the Web, after all ....

But we should hope they'd care about their customers.

Jeff, if you are reading this, way to go! You've just given Amazon a black eye and your reputation has gone down the toilet. Well done!

lilac_jive · 03-12-2009, 11:55 AM

Is it ok if someone tells me what this tool did? I'm a little confused.

edit* nevermind, missed the explanation

cvkemp · 03-12-2009, 11:55 AM

This is the reason that I did not buy the Kindle. I did not want to be tied to the mother ship. I love my freedom to pick where I get my books and what firmware I use.
chuck

AnemicOak · 03-12-2009, 11:56 AM

Doesn't Mobi Desktop 6.0 do the same thing? IIRC it did, at least for the K1.

RobbieClarken · 03-12-2009, 12:02 PM

Thanks for the explanation Alexander. I'm glad that MobileRead can still be a place to learn about great tools like kindlepid.py that empower ebook readers and force competition on companies that would rather restrict their customers' options. This attempt to suppress speech will only imply people must perform a google search to find the extra information they need. You wouldn't expect imposing this minor inconvenience is worth the damage to Amazon's reputation that they will receive from bullying a forum that has brought them numerous customers.

JSWolf · 03-12-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Doesn't Mobi Desktop 6.0 do the same thing? IIRC it did, at least for the K1.

Mobipocket Desktop 6.0 did indeed give the PID for the K1. But without kindlefix.py, you cannot shift Mobipocket eBooks to Kindle eBooks. So even if you could get the K1's PID inserted into a Mobipocket eBook, the K1 will not display it without changing the document identifier. And this change is what Amazon is upset about.

So basically the message I am getting from Amazon is....
You bought a Kindle, now we own your *ss.

Alexander Turcic · 03-12-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Mobipocket Desktop 6.0 did indeed give the PID for the K1. But without kindlefix.py, you cannot shift Mobipocket eBooks to Kindle eBooks.

Exactly. And they only pointed at kindlepid.py in the notice.

03-12-2009, 11:30 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 12,730 Karma: 71589 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Sony Portable Reader	Amazon uses DMCA to restrict where you can buy e-books As some of you may already know, this week we received a DMCA take-down notice from Amazon requesting the removal of the tool kindlepid.py and instructions associated with it. Although we never hosted this tool (contrary to their claim), nor believe that this tool is used to remove technological measures (contrary to their claim), we decided, due to the vagueness of the DMCA law and our intention to remain in good relation with Amazon, to voluntarily follow their request and remove links and detailed instructions related to it. A quick backgrounder: kindlepid.py is a small Python script allowing you to derive a Mobipocket-compatible personal identifier (PID) for your Kindle reader. This PID in itself has nothing at all to do with reading any copyrighted content. It is only used to make legitimate e-book purchases at stores other than Amazon's. We believe in the freedom of speech and we encourage you to continue expressing your views and thoughts on tools like kindlepid.py. We only ask you not to provide any how-to instructions, source codes and/or links for obtaining kindlepid.py. We would like to remind you to apply common sense when using the private message system, and not to use it for sharing information how to obtain or use kindlepid.py. We stress that we respect your privacy and that we do not monitor private messages. Lastly, I would like to ask you for assistance and to contact us - using the report post feature for example - should you detect content that might not follow the guideline above. Thank you for your understanding! Alexander Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 03-13-2009 at 11:03 AM. Reason: notice added

03-12-2009, 11:38 AM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 8,208 Karma: 58191 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Airpanel 100, Jornada 720, Kindle, Smart Q7, Zelda has Sony 600 & 700	Even though our servers are in Canada, and the site owner is in Switzerland, we still removed the material. __________________ Nate's Ebook News - www.natesebooknews.com

03-12-2009, 11:43 AM	#3
CCDMan Skeptic Posts: 289 Karma: 541 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Device: Kindle 1, iPod Touch, Kindle 2	I am amazed at how companies think they can keep folks from finding this kind of information by issuing takedowns. Legal or illegal, trying to stamp out anything that can be placed on the web is like playing bop-a-mole. Apparently no one at Amazon has ever used Google. What is even more stupid about this is that the actual content under discussion is all quite legal. Only Amazon has any potential to suffer and very little at that. It is interesting that they do not complain about NON DRM books that are available in mobi. like public domain and BAEN. This would seem to encourage other providers to enable their books on other devices wherever possible or come out with their own device (in fact, more rumors of an Apple device as of yesterday). Pretty shortsighted, as I am sure time will tell.... __________________ For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. - H. L. Mencken Last edited by CCDMan; 03-12-2009 at 01:00 PM.

03-12-2009, 11:44 AM	#4
zelda_pinwheel WWHALD Posts: 24,577 Karma: 102009 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: ebookwise 1150	i think it's particularly ironic that they should attack MobileRead the same week that we gave away a free Kindle in a contest. __________________ blog.ex-elibris.fr : les liseuses, les ebooks, nos lectures, la technologie… I don't want none of that mischief on my eels! - pdurrant by popular demand (well, vr is sure demanding, at least), we bring you the next exciting avatar in zelda's wardrobe, by the inimitable Madam Broshkina.

03-12-2009, 11:45 AM	#5
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 4,901 Karma: 38314 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: B'ham, AL Device: EBW1150, PC, Sony PRS-505, Yearning for an Apple iPad	That is very rude of Amazon. I'm disappointed in them. __________________ "... I'd much rather help out at a candy store or ice cream parlor. I like it when sugar is commonplace..." Taken out of context from Jeff Inlo's Soul View* (See Writer's Corner)*

03-12-2009, 11:51 AM	#7
Flub Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 127 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom Device: iPhone, PRS-505, Kindle 2	The funny part is that many people like me will never have even heard of the script until Amazon made a fuss about it. I found it with a simple google search. Same with how-to instructions. Is that really what you wanted Amazon? (not that it makes any difference in my case. You can't even download the iPhone app in the UK).

03-12-2009, 11:52 AM	#8
Gaurnim Guru Posts: 676 Karma: 1753 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook, Palm T5	Well, they are only doing the most part of their business on the Web, why should we expect them to understand the Web, after all .... Last edited by Gaurnim; 03-12-2009 at 12:04 PM.

03-12-2009, 11:55 AM	#10
lilac_jive Grand Wizard Posts: 5,252 Karma: 16786 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Is it ok if someone tells me what this tool did? I'm a little confused. edit* nevermind, missed the explanation __________________ Need something to read? Check out my blog, The Book Plate! http://bookplatereads.blogspot.com

03-12-2009, 11:55 AM	#11
cvkemp Feeling My Age Posts: 246 Karma: 22 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hutto, Texas Device: Dell Mini 10V	This is the reason that I did not buy the Kindle. I did not want to be tied to the mother ship. I love my freedom to pick where I get my books and what firmware I use. chuck

03-12-2009, 11:56 AM	#12
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 2,597 Karma: 8713 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: Opus / Kindle 2 / Sony 505 / HTC Hero (Android Phone)	Doesn't Mobi Desktop 6.0 do the same thing? IIRC it did, at least for the K1. __________________ ~Brian "The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell, together, as quickly as possible." - Mark Twain

03-12-2009, 12:02 PM	#13
RobbieClarken Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 1808 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Device: iRex DR1000S, iPhone 3GS, Kindle 2i	Thanks for the explanation Alexander. I'm glad that MobileRead can still be a place to learn about great tools like kindlepid.py that empower ebook readers and force competition on companies that would rather restrict their customers' options. This attempt to suppress speech will only imply people must perform a google search to find the extra information they need. You wouldn't expect imposing this minor inconvenience is worth the damage to Amazon's reputation that they will receive from bullying a forum that has brought them numerous customers. __________________ Currently reading: From Poverty to Prosperity by Arnold Kling & Nick Schulz Reinventing the Bazaar by John McMillan Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

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