I'd be interested to hear other people's views on the question of rented ebooks and DRM stripping. My views (at the moment) are as follows:
- DRM-stripping an ebook that you have bought is fine.
- DRM-stripping a library ebook is fine, so long as you don't keep the ebook longer than your check out limit.
- DRM-stripping and then keeping a library ebook is not OK, but probably doesn't actually cause the publisher/author any harm.
- DRM-stripping and then keeping a rented ebook is not OK, and probably does cause the publisher/author harm.
I make a distinction in the last two instances because I feel that someone renting an ebook is actually quite likely to buy the ebook instead, if it wasn't possible to keep the ebook permanently, or at least to rent it for longer than the minimum period. While I feel that someone borrowing from a library is unlikely to buy the book that they've been able to borrow.
Is there a genuine distinction between getting a library book and renting a book? Is one relatively neutral, while the other is harmful?
Thoughts, please.