Quote:
Originally Posted by eschwartz
Then rentals should have been specified. And I would respond:
You're right, and DRM isn't going away for rented textbooks anymore than it is for rented ebooks (Kindle Unlimited) or library loaned ebooks.
I still don't get the point of (trying to) make a distinction.
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I had in mind some kind of managed system for students. It maybe rental or buying from outside, all as ebooks. Drm may not go away in case of e-textbooks (probably dont have to), just think of a situation when one student buys book and whole class gets the copy for free. The reason behind asking this was, drm increases book price and complexity in distribution life-cycle.
And let as accept that ebook piracy is rampant and more severe in case of textbook because there you not only have casual sharing but professional pirate racket involved. And because schools still big consumer of paper books not many are talking about DRM but soon situation will be different. Kindle, 3M or overdrive are just name to few but they are vendor specific options.
And then there is big difference in consuming a novel than a textbook, in later case you may not focus too much on convenience and because reading a textbook is already painful, other pain dont count. Student reading textbook is far focused and will be satisfied with available ereader as long as the ebook reader allows doing fundamental things such as note making. good character support etc.
A student who need a particular e-textbook has no option but to buy/rental no matter it is drmed or drm free, in most cases he/she is only interest the that book until exams.