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Halk · 03-29-2008, 09:43 PM

Twenty one pages....

I started this thread in order to have a discussion. It'd have been pointless unless I was prepared to listen, and I think I have learned from it.

I've already said I'm going to change my behaviour - I'll now browse through what I can pay for legally, rather than browse through all books and then have to choose between not getting the book, or pirating it.

I've also decided not to use DRM removal tools. Not because it's illegal, but because it's not justifiable for me to tell myself it's ok for me to use them, but not ok for other people to use them because other people might spread the books around.

I've decided I have no issue with DRM'ed books. However if I'm given a choice between a DRM free book and one with DRM then I'll value the DRM free one higher.

I've also decided to do all I can to make sure I buy from an online bookstore that meets, as closely as possible, what I consider to be a good model. By that I mean the site is not just a "Here's the books, here's the badly formatted blurb off the back of the book, buy it if you want" site. I'll be looking for sites which actually add some value to the shopping experience. Things like making sample chapters available. Allowing customer comments, things like that.

I won't share my books with other people, unless the purchase I make is intended to allow me to do that. For example if it's DRM'ed then I will assume it's intended for me and me only. If it's not DRM'ed and the author says it's ok for me to give it to someone if I delete my copy then I might do that. Unless something specific is said then I will assume I am paying for a different license than I would with a paper book, and that I am not buying a single product which can only be used by one person at a time, that I am instead buying the rights to read this product as and when I want, but it's only me that can do so.

03-29-2008, 09:43 PM	#303
Halk Fanatic Posts: 538 Karma: 469999 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS-650 (PRS+ alpha - thanks Kartu!)	Twenty one pages.... I started this thread in order to have a discussion. It'd have been pointless unless I was prepared to listen, and I think I have learned from it. I've already said I'm going to change my behaviour - I'll now browse through what I can pay for legally, rather than browse through all books and then have to choose between not getting the book, or pirating it. I've also decided not to use DRM removal tools. Not because it's illegal, but because it's not justifiable for me to tell myself it's ok for me to use them, but not ok for other people to use them because other people might spread the books around. I've decided I have no issue with DRM'ed books. However if I'm given a choice between a DRM free book and one with DRM then I'll value the DRM free one higher. I've also decided to do all I can to make sure I buy from an online bookstore that meets, as closely as possible, what I consider to be a good model. By that I mean the site is not just a "Here's the books, here's the badly formatted blurb off the back of the book, buy it if you want" site. I'll be looking for sites which actually add some value to the shopping experience. Things like making sample chapters available. Allowing customer comments, things like that. I won't share my books with other people, unless the purchase I make is intended to allow me to do that. For example if it's DRM'ed then I will assume it's intended for me and me only. If it's not DRM'ed and the author says it's ok for me to give it to someone if I delete my copy then I might do that. Unless something specific is said then I will assume I am paying for a different license than I would with a paper book, and that I am not buying a single product which can only be used by one person at a time, that I am instead buying the rights to read this product as and when I want, but it's only me that can do so.