Quote:
Originally Posted by rkomar
If the key is obtained over the net in a secure manner each time the book is opened, then it gets harder for the user to get their hands on it. It also makes the key book-specific and possibly random (rather than having the same, guessable key for the entire library). That seems to be the way that Adobe was going with their latest ADE encryption scheme. I think that they, like webroot, were seeing ebooks as something that you read on a connected computer using an app (that can be updated at any time). They didn't seem to be considering connectionless devices with fixed firmwares, like e-ink readers often are.
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I have no doubt that something along these lines will be tried with ebooks at some point. But it will have to be by someone who is willing to sell less ebooks than they otherwise could. I don't really see such an experiment succeeding long-term either--unless the goal is to slow the spread of ebooks, of course. A required internet connection to read a book simply won't fly (for many people). I would be a bit sad if I was no longer able to make use of ebooks, but in the event that such a situation become the "norm," it wouldn't be difficult for me to transition back to physical books.
Current ebook DRM isn't noticed by a lot of people because it can stay out of the way of a lot of readers' habits. They can go for years without getting "burnt" by DRM's inconveniences. But when readers enjoyment of their books start routinely being interrupted/prevented by a draconian, always on, phone-home process; the uproar and negative attention drawn to DRM will get bigger/louder quicker than ever. "Most people don't even know about DRM" will become a thing of the past. And that will cut both ways.