Mobipocket ebooks useless after firmware upgrade

[ebookreaders]

The new (beta) BeBook firmware update, which adds Adobe drm-ed ePub and pdf support to the first generation BeBook ereader, doesn't support drm-ed Mobipocket ebooks anymore, hence making your legally bought Mobipocket ebooks a heap of worthless bits&bytes.

Here is the August 2009 firmware update for your BeBook eReader.

WARNING: Read the full text and instructions before upgrading.

This release note is for the August 2009 update. Firmware version NL-2.10-20090803

Changes to last update:

WARNING: Removes the ability to read Mobipocket DRM protected files. (non DRM Mobipocket files can still be read)
CHANGE: This updates your BeBook adding support for DRM protected PDF and EPUB files using Adobe (r) DRM.
CHANGE: adds compatibility with Adobe Digital Editions book management software.
CHANGE: auto recognition in Adobe Digital Editions identifying the device as 'BeBook'
CHANGE: adds reflowable PDF and Epub file support.

Amazon is to blame here; they don't allow ereader manufacturers to add Mobi drm on ereaders that also have another drm system installed. So either you can stick with Mobipocket, and will not be able to buy drm-ed ePub ebooks, or you can switch to ePub, and say goodbye to your Mobipocket ebook collection.

More ranting in this Dutch article on the subject. Please join me and also sign the anti-drm petition at Defectivebydesign.org.

So what do you think? Would you rather skip the update, in order to be able to keep reading your drm-ed Mobipocket ebooks? Or are you ready to ditch your old ebook collection in order to switch to ePub with Adobe drm?

(please note that this is not BeBook specific; the Cybook update will also remove support for Mobipocket with drm. Also all new models (Cybook Opus, BeBook mini, etc) will not support protected Mobipocket if you want to read Adobe drm-ed ePub.)

[Scarpad]

Yep. why after I buy an Ebook I strip the DRM off of it, and then I sleep like a baby...

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

So what do you think? Would you rather skip the update, in order to be able to keep reading your drm-ed Mobipocket ebooks? Or are you ready to ditch your old ebook collection in order to switch to ePub with Adobe drm?

I'll just remove the DRM and forget about it. And if need be, I'll use Calibre to convert them to epub.

While I'm totally against Amazon on this (it's really silly, forbidding other DRM formats beside your own), I'll not let Amazon spoil my fun.

[ebookreaders]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I'll just remove the DRM and forget about it. And if need be, I'll use Calibre to convert them to epub.

I suspect that there are many people out there who don't even know what DRM is or that they have bought ebooks with DRM. I suspect that these people will probably not figure out how to de-DRM their ebooks.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

I suspect that there are many people out there who don't even know what DRM is or that they have bought ebooks with DRM. I suspect that these people will probably not figure out how to de-DRM their ebooks.

I'm going to reluctantly agree with you on this. I don't think the average and new consumer of ebooks knows about all this DRM stuff that's happening, or even has the time to engage in the issue.

That's the shame of DRM.


Don

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

I suspect that there are many people out there who don't even know what DRM is or that they have bought ebooks with DRM. I suspect that these people will probably not figure out how to de-DRM their ebooks.

That's true... But you asked what I would do... And I already have to do it, as I have 5 devices on which I read.

[Phogg]

I will agree that the average consumer has no clue on this stuff.

But isn't this a lovely justification to get that second machine that one couldn't justify before?

I really NEED another machine now....

[discourse]

Every time I read a story like this it makes me furious! DRM is evil and we should not support companies that still think it works as a deterrent against piracy.

[ebookreaders]

Originally Posted by discourse

Every time I read a story like this it makes me furious! DRM is evil and we should not support companies that still think it works as a deterrent against piracy.

Same feeling here, it really p*sses me off. Therefore we should keep spreading this kind of stories and convince publishers in your own country not to engage in DRM.

[Abecedary]

I agree that the average consumer doesn't understand the various types of DRM. But the plus to this whole issue (IMHO) is that new customers who buy these readers will likely be on the ePub side of the DRM fence instead of the Mobi side. If DRM is going to be around, I'd rather have the majority of devices going forward to at least support the same DRM scheme (not that I want DRM around).

[wodin]

I am in the process of selling my 505, and I can attest to trying to educate the average user about the various permutations of file formats and encryption schemes.

On thing I have to thank Sony for is making it necessary to learn to strip DRM from Mobi files so I can buy books from someone besides Sony. Now the only thing I buy is mobi files, strip the DRM and convert them to whatever format I need.

Now I don't care if they disable my DRM or not, all of my library id DRM free.

[StanByk]

I guess this just shows the importance of removing the DRM protection from the ebooks once you have purchased them.

[derrell]

Personally I'm like others that have answered. I'll keep doing what I usually do buy whichever book I like and strip it then read it on whatever device that I own. It is unfortunate that as you say most people don't even realize that drm is a problem and they won't until they run up against a situation like this where they have to choose between a firmware upgrade and still being able to read books that they have purchased.

As much as it sucks to be in the position of not being able to access your books, the outrage it generates will hopefully move us all a little closer to being able to buy our books from publishers who aren't willing to shackle their books to a particular piece of hardware.

[tech_au]

I think you are gaining more than you are losing since Mobipocket format is not going to be around much longer.
Remove the DRM from your existing books(if its legal) and convert to epub and move forward.
If you use the history of online music as a guide eventually the ebook industry will wake up and make all ebooks available to all platforms.

[Over]

DRMed mobi files will just become obsolete because of its exclusivity. (Except the Amazon format, of course)

ePub will just replace it. ebookstores will have to support it, because more and more people will have ePub ereaders or will read in ther computers using Adobe's software, which is more known and popular.

Current users will just have to endure this transition phase: by removing drm from their ebooks, while avoiding drm mobi ebooks.