Quote:
Originally Posted by crich70
Ah but the difference is that the security features in a store, let's say Wal-Mart for example, are only there to keep us from walking out of the store with an item without having paid for it. DRM on the other hand (unless stripped) remains on the item for life. If I buy a video from Wal-Mart the store scans it for the price and deducts one copy of that video from their inventory. Thereafter the item isn't being monitored by the store anymore because I have paid for it. DRM stays active 24/7/365 unless stripped. Wal-Mart isn't going to come to my home and demand I return movies that I buy from them either. Technically Amazon could do that with books and not reimburse me for them. They did do something like that with copies of 1984 I believe. They found that someone without authorization was selling the book and pulled all copies including those that had been bought in good faith by Amazon customers. I don't recall if they were reimbursed for it or not though. The point is if they can do that in that sort of case then what keeps them from doing it in other cases? It's that fear that causes people to strip the DRM from their books.
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As I have said before I do not consider stripping DRM on a book you own to be theft in a moral sense. I do consider stripping DRM and distributing copies to be theft, whether intentional or not, but I am losing not any sleep over it and these are strictly my personal opinions.
I also think that publishers, authors, and other venders are within their rights to use DRM if they see fit, and I believe that it has been to their advantage overall, but I do not know that for sure. It is their right and I do not resent it. Like any other product I do not have to buy it, but I do as I like ebooks.
As to the fear of losing content, well with most of us (in this discussion) are able to strip DRM if we wish that is not too likely unless we are careless or victims of a fire etc. In fact if I was a victim of fire that burnt up all the copies of ebooks I have, in many cases I can simply redownload them from the seller. Try doing that with your antique credenza.
I cannot think of one thing I have bought that is not susceptible to loss so why bring out that tired old Amazon chestnut. I believe that the buyers were reimbursed, I also believe that Amazon acted in a stupid and arbitrary manner, but if the loss of one (I believe it was public domain) ebook has struck fear into the hearts of the book buying public, I am amazed that people still buy bread and cheese for fear that it might mold in their fridge
Most of the people who refer to this incident were not even affected slightly, and why is it any more horrific than someone stealing your car or borrowing a book or any other item and not returning it. Oh yeah, I forgot because it is Amazon.
Amazon is unlikely to do this again because of bad publicity. You seem to imply that it is likely that they or another vender will run amok and remove all of your content. I think it is unlikely, but hardly the end of the world or justification for doing something you believe is wrong. And if you don't believe it is wrong why bother justifying it.
And don't forget Amazon or anyone else can only do this if you are connected to the internet.
And as you said, the whole Amazon debacle was initiated by someone infringing copyright.