How does Libranda work?
Here come the first shortcomings: Libranda is NOT a selling platform for the end user. The publishing houses, unlike in the US model, do not sell directly to the customer. Libranda, at the moment, is only useful for the end user as an eBook advertising site, and to check if a certain book has a digital edition. Libranda is a database destined for WHOLESALE purposes. No sales can be had from Libranda, in spite of the big fuss around it. Here we have a scheme of how it works:
0. Books and metadata are preloaded on Libranda's servers.
1. User enters in the ebook store (each store has its own database, so the user must log in separately for every store) and places a purchase order for the book.
2. Libranda processes the purchase order.
3. Libranda sends a download link which contains the book to the ebook store.
4. The store forwards said download link to the customer.
5. The customer clicks on the link, Adobe Digital Editions opens (not to forget, ADE requires its own registry process) and the book, now protected with DRM Adobe ACS4, is available to the customer.
In essence, Libranda has no use for an end user, the user must register in two different places (ebook store and ADE) if s/he wants to purchase one book, and of course, the book is DRM'd with a program which requires Windows or Mac to work.
To be continued...