Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
Evidence that it doesn't work exists in the form of all the pirated copies of DRM protected books, which are easy to find.
Also in the existence of stripped books for non-infringing uses like backup or space shifting.
Also in the existence of people who refuse to buy DRMed books.
However, I was not referring to evidence that DRM doesn't work, I was referring to evidence that is neither required nor needed for the good of the authors. Saying that it works because "it's not inhibiting the majority sales" is like saying that my hyena-repellent necklace works because there are no hyenas in my suburban NJ neighborhood.
In other words, that's no evidence at all. There is no evidence I can see that DRM has protected or brought in a single dollar that wouldn't have come in without DRM as well. And I don't mean proof, I just mean some reasonable evidence. Do you know of any?
We can guess that some sales may have been saved by some folks who could not get their hands on a free copy because they didn't know how to strip DRM, but if we're guessing, we'd also have to subtract from those sales the guesses of LOST sales from anti-DRM folks who may have bought it if it didn't have DRM. And that's just in dollar values, not in goodwill and convenience to consumers.
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Sorry to respond late.
From your post I got the impression that you had evidence that it (DRM)doesn't work. Evidence based on more than opinions, surmises or likes and dislikes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
My problem with frahse's position, and I'm sure he does echo the opinion of many, is where is the evidence that DRM helps in this way? What is that belief founded on? I just don't see it. I see evidence that it DOESN'T work.
ApK
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I agree that DRM does not stop piracy. Probably does not even slow it down a smidge. Book piracy has been pretty common for a long time, long before the internet was commonly used.
I do think it slows down casual file sharing between strangers.
My evidence is no more concrete than yours. It is based on the amount of people who complain about DRM in a bitter manner (not yourself, but those who refer to it as a disease or infestation when it is clearly not either as it doesn't spread from one book to the next) or feel that it infringes their traditional rights/priveledges with paper books.
For example:
You cannot resell an ebook:
I have heard that some stores will buy back ebooks at a better price percenatge than used book stores? And in many communities their are no used book stores so not a right really.
You cannot let your family read your book:
Of course you can, just trade readers for a bit. I do it with my mother all the time.
You cannot read it on another device:
Well that is just silly as you can read Amazon/Adobe DRM books/etc. on most tablets, PCs and pretty well any ereader that can be rooted. And you don't have to chop of their spines and scan them.
As I said before, I do not think DRM enhances sales in that many people say this book has no DRM so I will not buy it, but I think that the percentage of people put off by DRM is pretty low in the general population. And most will buy it anyway if it is what they want.
Helen