Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
That, unfortunately, is a non-trivial problem, and one which needs to be overcome before you could have such a market. How could you prevent someone from selling the same 2nd-hand ebook to 10 or 100 different buyers? The problem is that there's nothing to distinguish the copy from the original.
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I suspect the problem is trivial enough, if there comes a pressing need for such a solution (probably involving a court decision somewhre...). After all, large chunks of it already exist, in both theory and practice via "watermarking", DRM systems, etc.
As I see it, the big non-trivial problem is that up to now, it's been to the advantage of the Marketplace seller (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.) to not allow a universal DRM method, and the bulk of publishers are dead-set against the implications, since they've always hated used books anyway.
With "universal" DRM, and a system similar to that used for music on Microsoft's Zune platform (at least as it's been explained to me, since I never owned one), one could buy a song, lend that song to a friend, etc-- once lent, it wouldn't be available for your use until it was 'returned'. With a universal DRM and watermarking, a title could be lent or sold at will, like a book or a CD.
(Yeah, I know, I sound like I'm in favor of that dastardly DRM-- yep, I am,
if it was properly configured to let me lend/sell digital media like I can the hard-copy media.)
Yes, I'm sure such a system is 'breakable' by those with sufficient profit motive and inclination to do so-- just as the current system is breakable. The remaining problem is as Harry's example-- how does a used copy differ from a "new one", thereby potentially undermining the cost of the new one. (Although my personal paper book needs match those of hughes, and I don't really care at all about normal wear and tear.)
Well, I imagine we already see part of that, where backlist books are typically cheaper than new releases. Ease of access will also always justify a higher price for non-hassle "bookstore" acquisition.
KentE