Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenophon
Hmmmm... This seems unfortunate. As far as I can tell (based on statements of lawyers who are experts in the field of IP, although I am neither an expert on IP nor a lawyer) it is in fact legal--that is "fair use"--for you to format shift a legally-purchased work whether it has DRM or not. Removing the DRM isn't illegal. Even when your purpose is to format-shift.
Distributing the de-DRMd work would be illegal. Downloading and removing the DRM from a work that you did not purchase legally may be illegal (it certainly seems immoral to me; your mileage may vary).
All the rest of your stated new policy seems darned sensible to me.
Xenophon
|
Well, my thinking was along these lines.
Instead of DRM removing tools, think of it as an assault rifle.
I need an assault rifle in my house to shoot any wild animals that bother me, or for self defence. I know I'll only use it for that and it won't be a risk.
However no other bugger can have an assault rifle, because if they do they'll go around shooting each other when they get pissed off.
As well as that...
I've also decided to view DRM encoded books as an entirely different thing than a non-DRM encoded book.
I.e. if I have one without DRM then it's mine forever, no matter what format I want it on I can have it on that, no matter what device. 40 years down the line I'll still have it (maybe!) and I can use it on my holographic cyber reader while a robotic Liz Hurley pilots my spaceship to Alpha Centauri. (Might as well be optimistic about the future!)
A DRM encoded book is, more or less, a one trick pony. It's fine on my Cybook, and perhaps on my next device. But eventually I'll no longer be able to give a new device ID to the retailer, and at that point I'll be unable to use it. Either that or I'll move to a device that doesn't support the format.
And the third reason...
If the publisher DRM encodes a book, then they are selling it as a DRM encoded book, knowing the pitfalls of doing so, and I'm buying it knowing the pitfalls of it. It's sort of like (but not exactly like) renting a DVD and making a copy. When I buy a DRM'ed book I'm renting for as long as it takes for it to become obsolete.
So while I'd happily pay 6 dollars for a DRM'ed book, I'd rather pay 8 for a DRM free book. And I hope publishers take note and adjust their marketing to suit.