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

[GeoffC]

Hi Richie and welcome.

It's a startling tale you have to tell - one really now wonders whether Amazon has really thought where they are going with the Kindle if what you say is true. Not only do they 'lock' in customers, they then go and alienate them ...

I sincerely hope someone with a Kindle can offer you some hope ....

[InlawBiker]

Strip the DRM?

[TadW]

Coincidentally, Techdirt writes today:

Google Provides Numbers On Just How Often DMCA Takedown Process Is Abused

"In its submission, Google notes that more than half (57%) of the takedown notices it has received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998, were sent by business targeting competitors and over one third (37%) of notices were not valid copyright claims."

Google's point is that these types of laws are widely abused, and setting up such a system where punishment is handed out without any real due process is going to lead to an awful lot of mistakes. But, these stats are worth discussing just for what they say about the DMCA itself, and that myth that the process is rarely abused. From the numbers Google has seen, it's quite clear that the DMCA isn't just abused, it's regularly abused in ways that are both anti-competitive and chilling.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by Richie

Here is the rub. Should you loose, receive a replacement Kindle (warranty or otherwise) or purchase a Kindle 2 ALL past issues of Newspapers or Magazines that were downloaded to the original Kindle will be UNREADABLE on any subsequent Kindle even though it is registered to your account.

Welcome to MobileRead Richie!

Check out Calibre (it has its won forum here). You'll be able to create your won newspapers from RSS feeds that will work forever on whatever digital device you like. You'll lose the Whispernet download capability but it's not a bad trade if you really want to keep your copies.

Who knows maybe we can bribe Kovid to add an auto update feature (like our MobiPocket Guide) which would take advantage of Whispernet to get the daily paper to the Kindle without using a computer (after the initial set-up of course).

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Who knows maybe we can bribe Kovid to add an auto update feature (like our MobiPocket Guide) which would take advantage of Whispernet to get the daily paper to the Kindle.

All it would take is the ability to email a document to the Kindle from within Calibre. I run some customized command-line stuff (not in Calibre) as a daily scheduled task to capture/format/email some "scooped" web newspaper content to my Kindle.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

All it would take is the ability to email a document to the Kindle from within Calibre. I run some customized command-line stuff (not in Calibre) as a daily scheduled task to capture/format/email some "scooped" web newspaper content to my Kindle.

Let's talk more about that, my mind is racing with possibilities. We should start a separate thread though.

[kovidgoyal]

Adding support for auto emzil content rom calibre is on my todo list, but it got pushed down some since now I don't feel comfortable turning on the wireless on my Kindle.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Adding support for auto emzil content rom calibre is on my todo list, but it got pushed down some since now I don't feel comfortable turning on the wireless on my Kindle.

Understood.

Still, I'd love to see that feature if you ever get around to it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Adding support for auto emzil content rom calibre is on my todo list, but it got pushed down some since now I don't feel comfortable turning on the wireless on my Kindle.

Hey, you have a Kindle now? Woot!

BOb

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by TadW

But, these stats are worth discussing just for what they say about the DMCA itself, and that myth that the process is rarely abused.

There's a myth that the DMCA is rarely abused? I thought it was common knowledge that it's frequently abused.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

There's a myth that the DMCA is rarely abused? I thought it was common knowledge that it's frequently abused.

so did i... maybe this will open some eyes which want to stay closed...

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Adding support for auto emzil content rom calibre is on my todo list, but it got pushed down some since now I don't feel comfortable turning on the wireless on my Kindle.

I'd be happy to add you to my approved Kindle email list so that you can have a Whispernet guinea pig. Or however you want to work it.

[ghchinoy]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Let's talk more about that, my mind is racing with possibilities. We should start a separate thread though.

http://www.instapaper.com/

You might want to look at that - it apparently has a beta to-kindle feature.

I have a little app in beta that does something similar (pulls sites, converts them, syncs on kindle usb connect), but it needs some polish.

[kovidgoyal]

Actually I dont need to turn on the wireless, emailing the book to myself should still make it show up on the manage my kindle website. If that's the case that is sufficient for me to develop the functionality.

The reason it moved down my TODO list is that since I no longer switch on the wireless on my kindle, I don't have any use for this feature.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Actually I dont need to turn on the wireless, emailing the book to myself should still make it show up on the manage my kindle website. If that's the case that is sufficient for me to develop the functionality.

The reason it moved down my TODO list is that since I no longer switch on the wireless on my kindle, I don't have any use for this feature.

Manage My Kindle only shows content you purchased from Amazon. If you are emailing books or content from elsewhere, you will only see it on your Kindle, never on Amazon's site.