Quote:
Originally Posted by DiapDealer
Their reasoning (and I'm not supporting it) is probably that with the current DRM stripping tools, you basically have to have an authorized copy (tailored for you or your reader) before you can even remove the DRM. I can't remove the DRM from your ebooks without personal information about you and/or using your physical computer. Basically, the only one who can remove the DRM is the one who went through the proper channels to get an authorized copy (for the most part).
Right now, there's two "proper channels:" buying (licensing... whatever) the ebook from a store. Or borrowing it from a library. Guess which scenario the publisher would rather you used?? 
People who spend their hard earned money on an ebook are less likely to mass share/upload their DeDRM'ed copy than someone who checks out a free library book and strips the DRM. The libraries have the potential to be a wholesale outlet for bulk pirates... and they don't even have to spend a penny.
Library books are the one situation where I support DRM. I wish the current tools didn't work on any library books, but when they use the exact same DRM on library books that's on retail books... what's to be done? You can't really unring the bell, ya know? |
I don't know if I really agree on the need to have an authorized copy. I mean... to remove DRM you have to, pretty much. But you can find ANY book already stripped out on the web - and, funny thing is, sometimes the formatting is BETTER than the ones you pay for.
They are fighting a lost battle - and they are fighting it against the wrong people. They are punishing those who actually go through the legal way, borrowing a library book, to hurt those who could not give a damn and just download pirated stuff from the web.
Don't get me wrong - I am not endorsing piracy. But when the alternative is between getting a DRM protected copy you can use on a limited number of devices and which you cannot modify (to make up for their poor formatting) and getting a non-DRM free copy pirated over the web, which you have full control of... well, you can fill in the blanks.
They need to give users a REASON to pay for an ebook - and, in that sense, Amazon's X-Ray seems to be a step in the right direction. Otherwise, the battle is already lost - and the more they fight their customers, the more it will hurt them in the long run.
I just wish they had learned something from the music industry. Apparently, not.