Quote:
Originally Posted by MaggieScratch
I don't see DRM in itself as evil, I see limiting portability of ebooks across devices because of DRM as evil...
A combination of light DRM with ePub might be the answer...
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We're in agreement here, as well: One ePub doc, bought with light DRM (like a CC or registration #), to be converted at will to any readers you have. Hopefully, if the ePub cost is low enough, people will be willing to buy their own, and won't just let copies loose at will.
I'm more on David's side than Cory's: I believe the
work is the value, not the medium. Cory essentially considers electronic files worthless in his model. The problem is also with the public: Most of them feel as Cory does. This is fine for people like him, who have the support of the publishing castle, and therefore make their money through the castle system. For everyone on the outside of the castle, it's not so good. And it's not fair, to tell everyone on the outside that their work is valueless, just because no publisher has deigned them worthy of access to the castle.
Copyright is about enforcing fairness, making sure ideas with merit aren't just stolen by others with more resources or pull (or friends in the castle). My copyright is as good as Cory's copyright, which is as good as David's copyright, and I ultimately have as much control over my product as they do. Copyright works because the public, acting through the law, accepts that concept and largely upholds it... until recently, when electronic files have thrown a planet-sized monkeywrench into the works.
Salvaging the situation depends upon people agreeing that the work has value beyond ink on bound slips of paper, and upholding that through application of copyright law. If the people refuse to accept that, then the industry will eventually find all of its material on-line for free, and that won't be great for the publishing castle (or those inside it).