MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Solid State E-Books

Bob Russell · 09-22-2006, 03:01 PM

Don't we have the same problems with a physical SD card copy protection as you would with software DRM schemes?
-- No backups
-- Once the technology advances, you can't read it anymore
-- The DRM can be broken, especially if it's a universal protection scheme (because all the DRM-breakers are focused on one scheme, unless there are stricter legal constraints, which are certainly not good for consumers.)

The only thing you seem to gain from physical protection is being able to share the file with another person. But schemes (e.g. eReader protection, or even the nightmarish .lit protection) already allow for that on a limited basis. And however "universal" EBSD might get, the same would be possible for any SW protection scheme.

Also, imagine if you want to mix music and e-books on a single SD card and leave it in the reader all the time. With EBSD protection and one book per SD card, now you probably can't combine your e-books and music on the card with the protected e-book.

I just don't see the advantage, other than the tactile benefit for some of storing the e-book files on an SD card. But you could do that yourself with schemes like eReader DRM... just put the books on SD cards. One book per card if you prefer to organize them that way.

Even more severe hardware protection, say fingerprint verification on an SD card, or the dreaded security dongle, seems to fall short. The book is only accessible if you are personally there. But then you still have issues unless the reader software honors the controls (i.e. doesn't copy it). Which puts you back to the same position again as if it was software DRM, doesn't it? You are then still dependent on a select set of software for reading, and therefore dependent on a specific set of technologies or you can't read the e-book.

I'm trying to understand, but you can see why I'm having trouble seeing how hardware helps. Unless maybe it's in conjunction with the reader. But isn't that similar to the original intent of DVD protection, which basically required "collusion agreements" between DVD reading hardware manufacturers? Or it may be similar to rumored protection for new Intel based Vista PCs, that tie the protection to hardware in PCs. Again that requires some "collusion", this time the PC makers, and probably the software running of the PC. It seems more limiting than freeing for the consumer of content.

But if it requires that "collusion" between any DRM file and the reading, how is that better if it's hardware based than software based? In fact, maybe it's worse, because at least older software technology can be emulated. Hardware can't. Software controls only tie a file to reading software. Hardware introduced a third tier of control and doesn't really seem to release the other two. (Granted, in some way maybe you could trade file encryption for hardware control, but I don't see how that helps either.)

At least iTunes allows you to burn music to a CD. It may not be the same quality, and it may be both inconvenient and cost you the blank media, but it is one way to allow users to feel secure about their music and yet provide a simple hurdle to prevent mass casual copying. That's the sort of hope that I have for the future of e-books. The publishers just need to discover that there are as many or more sales to be gained by trusting consumers than by locking everyone down so much that it scares consumers away. We'll see lots of experimentation and various degress of protection (like in the CD protection schemes that have been getting tested). But I don't see completely DRM-free e-books for the newly published book market (in the near future), and I think customers will balk (eventually) at strict DRM controls. The latest novels might be fine because most people just want to read the book. They don't want a time limit, but they are probably willing to reluctantly accept eventual obsolescence of the technology that the e-book is based on. We could argue all day with whether or not that is acceptable, and it's certainly not ideal, but until publishers are willing to allow completely unprotected content, I don't see that as a widespread solution. It may be a great goal, but a lot of paradigm shifts would have to happen to get there.

So, anyway, I just don't see how a physical security solution, especially SD card based security, is addressing any of the problems, other than the non-rights related "comfort" of having a card with a book on it. Once hardware controls are introduced, it only seems to make things worse for the consumer.

How long are SD cards going to be around anyway? They are great right now, and I prefer to buy devices that use SD cards rather than the alternatives. But aren't they eventually going to be the cassettes or records or 8-track tapes of tomorrow?

I probably have a blind spot... because I know a lot of people seem to want a hardware control. What am I missing here?

09-22-2006, 03:01 PM	#25
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Don't we have the same problems with a physical SD card copy protection as you would with software DRM schemes? -- No backups -- Once the technology advances, you can't read it anymore -- The DRM can be broken, especially if it's a universal protection scheme (because all the DRM-breakers are focused on one scheme, unless there are stricter legal constraints, which are certainly not good for consumers.) The only thing you seem to gain from physical protection is being able to share the file with another person. But schemes (e.g. eReader protection, or even the nightmarish .lit protection) already allow for that on a limited basis. And however "universal" EBSD might get, the same would be possible for any SW protection scheme. Also, imagine if you want to mix music and e-books on a single SD card and leave it in the reader all the time. With EBSD protection and one book per SD card, now you probably can't combine your e-books and music on the card with the protected e-book. I just don't see the advantage, other than the tactile benefit for some of storing the e-book files on an SD card. But you could do that yourself with schemes like eReader DRM... just put the books on SD cards. One book per card if you prefer to organize them that way. Even more severe hardware protection, say fingerprint verification on an SD card, or the dreaded security dongle, seems to fall short. The book is only accessible if you are personally there. But then you still have issues unless the reader software honors the controls (i.e. doesn't copy it). Which puts you back to the same position again as if it was software DRM, doesn't it? You are then still dependent on a select set of software for reading, and therefore dependent on a specific set of technologies or you can't read the e-book. I'm trying to understand, but you can see why I'm having trouble seeing how hardware helps. Unless maybe it's in conjunction with the reader. But isn't that similar to the original intent of DVD protection, which basically required "collusion agreements" between DVD reading hardware manufacturers? Or it may be similar to rumored protection for new Intel based Vista PCs, that tie the protection to hardware in PCs. Again that requires some "collusion", this time the PC makers, and probably the software running of the PC. It seems more limiting than freeing for the consumer of content. But if it requires that "collusion" between any DRM file and the reading, how is that better if it's hardware based than software based? In fact, maybe it's worse, because at least older software technology can be emulated. Hardware can't. Software controls only tie a file to reading software. Hardware introduced a third tier of control and doesn't really seem to release the other two. (Granted, in some way maybe you could trade file encryption for hardware control, but I don't see how that helps either.) At least iTunes allows you to burn music to a CD. It may not be the same quality, and it may be both inconvenient and cost you the blank media, but it is one way to allow users to feel secure about their music and yet provide a simple hurdle to prevent mass casual copying. That's the sort of hope that I have for the future of e-books. The publishers just need to discover that there are as many or more sales to be gained by trusting consumers than by locking everyone down so much that it scares consumers away. We'll see lots of experimentation and various degress of protection (like in the CD protection schemes that have been getting tested). But I don't see completely DRM-free e-books for the newly published book market (in the near future), and I think customers will balk (eventually) at strict DRM controls. The latest novels might be fine because most people just want to read the book. They don't want a time limit, but they are probably willing to reluctantly accept eventual obsolescence of the technology that the e-book is based on. We could argue all day with whether or not that is acceptable, and it's certainly not ideal, but until publishers are willing to allow completely unprotected content, I don't see that as a widespread solution. It may be a great goal, but a lot of paradigm shifts would have to happen to get there. So, anyway, I just don't see how a physical security solution, especially SD card based security, is addressing any of the problems, other than the non-rights related "comfort" of having a card with a book on it. Once hardware controls are introduced, it only seems to make things worse for the consumer. How long are SD cards going to be around anyway? They are great right now, and I prefer to buy devices that use SD cards rather than the alternatives. But aren't they eventually going to be the cassettes or records or 8-track tapes of tomorrow? I probably have a blind spot... because I know a lot of people seem to want a hardware control. What am I missing here?