MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader Locked Up: Why Your Books Are No Longer Yours

JSWolf · 03-27-2008, 11:18 PM

The problem with DRm is that your content is locked to either a specific device or ID. Now lets say you had a Kindle and it broke. It was out of warranty when it broke. Amazon might not (read this in another thread) not have a repair service. So you can't send it in to get it fixed. You then decide to purchase a 505 or a Gen3. Your Kindle content is then unable to be read on either device since it's locked with DRM. For the average person, this would be very true. I know you might be able to remove the DRM and convert it. But that's not the issue. Many people don't have a clue how to do this or that it is even possible. And even if they did, know it can be done, don't know how to do it. So the Kindle content that's not been read is now lost unless repurchased in another format.

if someone wants to purchase something as an eBook to read on the computer, DRM is going to maybe bite his/her ass. The question is, what format to get, and will that content be readable if that person ever gets a portable reading device. Also, if the computer is ever needing the OS reinstalled or you just get a new computer... is there a way to migrate the content without needing to put in a new PID or redownload content/reregister the computer? I don't see that happening except for MS Reader content. I think the key is tied to your passport info. It's overall a lose-lose situation unless you can crack the DRM.

Take a look at the MLB website. They changed DRM providers and all the content that people previously purchased is now useless. That's DRM for you. Also wen Mobipocker took down their DRM server, it meant that a lot of Mobipocket format eBooks were unavailable for sale until the server came back up.

My MS Reader for some unknown reason no longer reader LIT files that have DRM. I can download them fine But I have to remove the DRM in order to be able to read them and I did properly activate it.

Adobe Acrobat 8 bit a lot of people on the ass as far as DRM PDF goes. Amazon screwed a lot of people when they stopped allowing downloads of purchased eBook content. And Kindle owners take note of this. Amazon has screwed people over on eBooks in the past.

And there are a lot of people that will not purchase a reader until DRM goes away. So overall DRM is losing money for eBooks.

03-27-2008, 11:18 PM	#158
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,961 Karma: 146918083 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The problem with DRm is that your content is locked to either a specific device or ID. Now lets say you had a Kindle and it broke. It was out of warranty when it broke. Amazon might not (read this in another thread) not have a repair service. So you can't send it in to get it fixed. You then decide to purchase a 505 or a Gen3. Your Kindle content is then unable to be read on either device since it's locked with DRM. For the average person, this would be very true. I know you might be able to remove the DRM and convert it. But that's not the issue. Many people don't have a clue how to do this or that it is even possible. And even if they did, know it can be done, don't know how to do it. So the Kindle content that's not been read is now lost unless repurchased in another format. if someone wants to purchase something as an eBook to read on the computer, DRM is going to maybe bite his/her ass. The question is, what format to get, and will that content be readable if that person ever gets a portable reading device. Also, if the computer is ever needing the OS reinstalled or you just get a new computer... is there a way to migrate the content without needing to put in a new PID or redownload content/reregister the computer? I don't see that happening except for MS Reader content. I think the key is tied to your passport info. It's overall a lose-lose situation unless you can crack the DRM. Take a look at the MLB website. They changed DRM providers and all the content that people previously purchased is now useless. That's DRM for you. Also wen Mobipocker took down their DRM server, it meant that a lot of Mobipocket format eBooks were unavailable for sale until the server came back up. My MS Reader for some unknown reason no longer reader LIT files that have DRM. I can download them fine But I have to remove the DRM in order to be able to read them and I did properly activate it. Adobe Acrobat 8 bit a lot of people on the ass as far as DRM PDF goes. Amazon screwed a lot of people when they stopped allowing downloads of purchased eBook content. And Kindle owners take note of this. Amazon has screwed people over on eBooks in the past. And there are a lot of people that will not purchase a reader until DRM goes away. So overall DRM is losing money for eBooks.