Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
There is one enormous drawback to developing your own independent encryption-based DRM scheme.
No existing ebook reading devices will be able to read the ebooks you sell.
In addition, breaking a DRM scheme that's implemented on a general computer is easier than you might think. I beleive an Italian textbook publisher (?Scuola books?) did develop their own scheme, but of course it could only work with their own software. If I remember correctly, it was cracked in short order.
B&N seem to have moved in this direction themselves. Whether they'll make it profitable is a matter for debate (since books bought through them can now only be read on their own nook devices). It will be interesting to see how long it takes for their new scheme is cracked (if anyone bothers).
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How easy a DRM breaks would depend on architecture, a general order of drm strength will is;
Mobile based < native software for pc < dedicated reader device.
The answer to DRM inconvenience can be evolution of mobile based apps unfortunately they are least secure today. Even if some less known vendor has strong drm but his competitor maybe be eager to spend time for breaking the drm thereby breaking its business.
When i started this thread i had in mind not to limit ebooks to only Fiction, Childrens book and Self help but it should be all inclusive and not just count these three common genre and those big retailers selling these genre I know lot of schools and univs are adopting drms.
I dont know whether its good to say "drm is a total waste" because then law would be also a total waste because some people break the law. and there is always cases of crime.