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JSWolf · 12-11-2007, 07:55 PM

I've seen people criticize Sony for being the only source of DRM ebook for the 500/505. Where is this same critisizm of Amazon as the only source of DRM ebooks for the Kindle? Even Mobipocket has a similar problem. Yes you can buy Mobipocket books at multiple ebook shops, but most of the ebooks rely on a single DRM server. Fictionwise may be the only ebook shop that I know of that sells DRM Mobipocket that uses Overdrive's DRM server as well on some of it's titles. I do not know about MS Reader titles and it's DRM scheme.

But is does seem that for reflowable ebooks that can be read on the current generation of eink based ebook readers, we are beholden to a small number of companies... Sony, Amazon, Mobipocket, and (I'm guessing here) Microsoft. Basically, these four companies hold most of the cards. Something needs to be done about ti so we don't end up with a fiasco like we did when Mobipocket's DRM server was taken down for about two weeks. The only solution to this problem is not more DRM servers, but NO DRM servers. That way if any of these companies was to decide to either stop ebooks or fold, others could still support the format. Imagine how you would feel if Amazon decided to change Mobipocket into AZW only. Or Sony decided it had enough or Microsoft... eReader I don't count as they don't support eink. But think it over, 4 companies hold the keys to most of the world's legal ebooks.

12-11-2007, 07:55 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,796 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Hypocrites abound! I've seen people criticize Sony for being the only source of DRM ebook for the 500/505. Where is this same critisizm of Amazon as the only source of DRM ebooks for the Kindle? Even Mobipocket has a similar problem. Yes you can buy Mobipocket books at multiple ebook shops, but most of the ebooks rely on a single DRM server. Fictionwise may be the only ebook shop that I know of that sells DRM Mobipocket that uses Overdrive's DRM server as well on some of it's titles. I do not know about MS Reader titles and it's DRM scheme. But is does seem that for reflowable ebooks that can be read on the current generation of eink based ebook readers, we are beholden to a small number of companies... Sony, Amazon, Mobipocket, and (I'm guessing here) Microsoft. Basically, these four companies hold most of the cards. Something needs to be done about ti so we don't end up with a fiasco like we did when Mobipocket's DRM server was taken down for about two weeks. The only solution to this problem is not more DRM servers, but NO DRM servers. That way if any of these companies was to decide to either stop ebooks or fold, others could still support the format. Imagine how you would feel if Amazon decided to change Mobipocket into AZW only. Or Sony decided it had enough or Microsoft... eReader I don't count as they don't support eink. But think it over, 4 companies hold the keys to most of the world's legal ebooks.