Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Nicholson
I think it would be hilarious if Kindle, Apple, BN, and Kobo were able to lock out the Potter books. Exclusivity works both ways...
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IF the HP books are released with non-locking DRM (and with this trace DRM of watermarks) AND in ePub format, then B&N and Kobo and Sony will read the books just fine. All three of those readers support the basic ePub format.
IF the HP books are released with non-locking DRM (and with this trace DRM of watermarks) AND in mobi format, then Amazon and the various PocketBook readers will read the books just fine; those readers support the basic mobi format.
"Exclusivity" does
not "work both ways" because all of the readers on the market allow sideloading from other sources than the device's connected store. There is no "lock-
out", since non-locking DRM formats can be loaded to the devices at any time, there is only "lock-
in" of the our-stores-books-will-only-work-on-our-reader which is quite a different thing altogether.
Having said THAT, the onus is not on device developers to scramble to modify their device if an author wants to institute their own format or DRM scheme. If Rowling announces tomorrow that the books are going to be released in LIT format because it's The Best Format EVAH and with XYZ new DRM because it's Unbreakable (*snort*), then it's A/B/K/S'
choice to mod their devices to support the format and DRM in the name of Capitalism, Free Market, and Increased Sales, but it's not their
obligation to do so.