[Marseille]

Originally Posted by SLJ

I am also saying that, at some point in the future, I expect a reasonably reliable form of digital document security to surface, providing the same protection of digital property as people have of physical property.

This is a pretty good illustration of how you and I disagree. You seem to believe that you own more than just a particular set of rights to the content you distribute, and that you even own the distributed copy of that content, and should be able to lock it down. Your model of ebooks is a rental model. Mine is an ownership model. I exchange money for the right to own that copy so long as I don't violate your rights in the content. I've always cared a great deal about my library and even have an emotional attachment to my books, and I won't tolerate an author, publisher or retailer reaching into my home and restricting perfectly legitimate uses.

I don't mind DRM on library ebooks, for example. That's where it belongs because I really don't even own the copy itself. DRM is unacceptable elsewhere.

Lawsuits and injunctions against filesharers have actually had some effectiveness against piracy. It's still a Red Queen's race, just like all other efforts against crime, but at least it targets for punishment those who have done wrong instead of those who've paid their hard-earned dollar and not been given the ownership rights they were promised in exchange. DRM on purchased goods should be regarded as theft from buyers in exactly the same way piracy is from producers.

And finally, I believe I have a right to be compensated for my work, just as you are compensated for your jobs.

I believe that when I compensate someone in exchange for a copy of a book, that copy becomes mine. I should have the key to any locks thereon. Anything else would be like buying a home and still having to ask the former owner to unlock the front door every time I wish to enter. And having to explain why on some occasion I might wish to enter through a back door or window. I'm not asking for the right to violate patents used in its construction nor to violate the tradedress rights or trade secrets, or copyright in the plans and blueprints, I just want the normal use of the place. I bought the book expecting to be able to read it freely of anyone else's locks.

I believe eBooks will be open someday just like emusic is now. The only question is how much income will be wasted on DRM management that won't go to authors or real piracy prevention in the meantime.