Quote:
Originally Posted by jabberwock_11
If I am looking for a reference manual or technical piece then I usually have to make due with a hard copy, but more and more often those creatures are available as ebooks. When they are available in electronic format they are RARELY protected by DRM.
|
I can fully agree with that. Professionally, we have access to many electronic technical manuals, reference works etc. through our academic library. These electronic works started to be available maybe three years ago in small quantities, currently most of what I need/use is available electronically. I have never encountered DRM on those beyond needing a VPN tunnel to our academic network.
A DRM scheme where I would need to install a program would very simply not work. Installing something on my main workstation to look through a reference manual would be a pain, but doable. However, mostly I need technical reference manuals while (trying to) operate a piece of equipment, generally using one of the computers driving that specific instrument. No way I will start installing programs to read DRM protected ebooks.
I've never even heard of people getting these kind of reference manuals from the darknet, it very simply doesn't make sense if one has access to a decent institutional library. I do sometimes keep local copies on my desktop computer at work or at home -- I know for the Springer books we use it is specifically indicated on every download page that this is allowed.