MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - OverDrive sold to private equity firm KKR

stumped · 12-31-2019, 02:55 PM

There are 2 almost independent parts to overdrive. There's the browse and borrow part which they run on behalf of book owners (enrolled libraries) , and there are the apps for reading, listening. It's only fear of piracy that keeps those tied together ?

I would happily borrow from overdirve and read in moon reader, but they lose control of copies if they allow that? Though they allow USA kindles to work like that.

Libby is almost good enough to be a decent lightweight stand alone reader app, but there's no way to import sideloaded books into it or to tie it to an open with.... In android

An MP3 audiobook borrowed through overdrive will already play in any media app though. I know my library dropped all DRM on audiobooks a while ago and went MP3 only. Maybe because Microsoft exited the audio DRM game?. Dunno if all overdrive clients did the same. Which does pose the question: if lendng works ok for DRM free audiobooks, which are typically more expensive than ebooks, then why not lend DRM free ebooks?

12-31-2019, 02:55 PM	#95
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	There are 2 almost independent parts to overdrive. There's the browse and borrow part which they run on behalf of book owners (enrolled libraries) , and there are the apps for reading, listening. It's only fear of piracy that keeps those tied together ? I would happily borrow from overdirve and read in moon reader, but they lose control of copies if they allow that? Though they allow USA kindles to work like that. Libby is almost good enough to be a decent lightweight stand alone reader app, but there's no way to import sideloaded books into it or to tie it to an open with.... In android An MP3 audiobook borrowed through overdrive will already play in any media app though. I know my library dropped all DRM on audiobooks a while ago and went MP3 only. Maybe because Microsoft exited the audio DRM game?. Dunno if all overdrive clients did the same. Which does pose the question: if lendng works ok for DRM free audiobooks, which are typically more expensive than ebooks, then why not lend DRM free ebooks? Last edited by stumped; 12-31-2019 at 03:00 PM.