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Quoth · 11-15-2019, 03:53 AM

Indeed corporate inertial means the most likely thing is that nothing will change.
I wasn't suggesting it likely that Rakuten would take over Nook, just that the Nook seems to be in an awkward situation made worse by the take over of B&N.

If I had B&N ebooks I'd want to make sure they worked on something else. Copyright is good. DRM is evil, it removes rights of consumers and turns what they think was a purchase into a temporary licence which can be revoked by turning off servers, or failing to keep producing the DRM compatible device at a corporate whim.

I've books over 100 years old. I've some 80 yo records. I've CDs, DVDs, BDs. How long does a physical ereader last?
I've all my ebooks backed up. I have backups of backups. Probably most are public domain, but I have bought eBooks from Amazon (not all had DRM) and Smashwords (none ever had DRM).

Long ago I used commercial video libraries and subscription TV. I still use the Public Library.

No-where did I ever see it clearly stated (or usually not stated) that when I buy content I'm really only renting a temporary licence. I get it about Copyright. I've never made copies of any copyright material for anyone else.

So now I make sure I don't buy digital content that can't be backed up and used on a different device, somehow.

Someday I might transfer my VHS tapes. I don't think they make VHS machines now and some of the content isn't on DVD/BD. Also why should I buy it again unless I can afford it? I have bought DVD or BD versions of some VHS for quality. Though I have a 46" 4K I'd not repurchase any DVDs in BD, the change in quality compared to a good DVD is too marginal compared to the big change from VHS to DVD.

Back to eBooks:
I don't think anyone with physical bookshops likes ebooks, or Amazon. None seem to have figured out how to sell ebooks instore. Maybe 30% of people don't have broadband or WiFi in Ireland. Though just about everyone has smartphones and can use an app to buy and read an ebook.
Also traditional publishers are mostly doing new titles on eBook. Why are they not using POD (for paper) and eBooks for the massive back catalogue. The Big US Corps have got Copyright extended to death + 75 years. Even 50 was too long. Yet you can't buy the books!

11-15-2019, 03:53 AM	#5
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,300 Karma: 105299897 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Indeed corporate inertial means the most likely thing is that nothing will change. I wasn't suggesting it likely that Rakuten would take over Nook, just that the Nook seems to be in an awkward situation made worse by the take over of B&N. If I had B&N ebooks I'd want to make sure they worked on something else. Copyright is good. DRM is evil, it removes rights of consumers and turns what they think was a purchase into a temporary licence which can be revoked by turning off servers, or failing to keep producing the DRM compatible device at a corporate whim. I've books over 100 years old. I've some 80 yo records. I've CDs, DVDs, BDs. How long does a physical ereader last? I've all my ebooks backed up. I have backups of backups. Probably most are public domain, but I have bought eBooks from Amazon (not all had DRM) and Smashwords (none ever had DRM). Long ago I used commercial video libraries and subscription TV. I still use the Public Library. No-where did I ever see it clearly stated (or usually not stated) that when I buy content I'm really only renting a temporary licence. I get it about Copyright. I've never made copies of any copyright material for anyone else. So now I make sure I don't buy digital content that can't be backed up and used on a different device, somehow. Someday I might transfer my VHS tapes. I don't think they make VHS machines now and some of the content isn't on DVD/BD. Also why should I buy it again unless I can afford it? I have bought DVD or BD versions of some VHS for quality. Though I have a 46" 4K I'd not repurchase any DVDs in BD, the change in quality compared to a good DVD is too marginal compared to the big change from VHS to DVD. Back to eBooks: I don't think anyone with physical bookshops likes ebooks, or Amazon. None seem to have figured out how to sell ebooks instore. Maybe 30% of people don't have broadband or WiFi in Ireland. Though just about everyone has smartphones and can use an app to buy and read an ebook. Also traditional publishers are mostly doing new titles on eBook. Why are they not using POD (for paper) and eBooks for the massive back catalogue. The Big US Corps have got Copyright extended to death + 75 years. Even 50 was too long. Yet you can't buy the books!