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Originally Posted by happy_terd
If it is still legal to remove DRM then can this site post the steps on how to do so.
The only reason I didnt look it up before is because I thought it was illegal in the US.
Thanks.
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In the US it is not currently illegal to remove the DRM from ebooks if that ebook does not allow "read-aloud", and there is no alternative ebook edition that does allow "read-aloud". This is because the Library of Congress has granted an exception for
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(6) Literary works distributed in ebook format when all existing ebook editions of the work (including digital text editions made available by authorized entities) contain access controls that prevent the enabling either of the book’s read-aloud function or of screen readers that render the text into a specialized format.
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However, it is still illegal to distribute de-drm software in the US. (§1201 a.2:
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No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that--
`(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title;
`(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title; or
`(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that person with that person's knowledge for use in circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.
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Although unless you're doing it "for the purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain" it is 'only' a civil offence, for which the statutory damages are $200-$2500 per act of circumvention, device, product, component, offer or performance of service, as the court considers just.
But this means that while it's legal to remove the DRM from ebooks in certain circumstances, it's not legal (in the US) to tell anyone how to do it, or provide the software.