Quote:
Originally Posted by bwaldron
True. But if Amazon started using the DMCA against individual Kindle users in such a fashion, the negative publicity would be far beyond anything they're getting now. It would be an incredibly stupid move...but, yeah, doesn't mean it won't happen.
Me, I'm not currently concerned about the de-drm'd (but legally purchased) ebooks on my Kindle.
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As an (almost) lawyer, I am actually really hoping that someone brings a suit like that - this is the only way the DMCA can get thrown out. Right now, the general public's picture of a DMCA violator is someone who wants to get content without paying for it. If the public (a jury) can see just how broad, and how restrictive, the DMCA really is, and how it can lock people out of material they paid for and thought they owned, I think it may be enough to get it thrown out.
And e-books are actually perfect for this - when the Kindle dies a natural death, the next e-book gadget comes out, and everyone finds out that the $$$$ they spent on Kindle books has essentially been wasted, because they can't possibly read those books on the next gadget without violating the DMCA, chances are that this will become a live issue in the public's mind.
I own about $100 worth of eReader books that I can't read on any of the e-paper gadgets. No, I won't violate the DMCA - I'd rather lose $100 than get sued for copyright infringement and possibly lose my job and my license to practice law. But I don't like it that I can't legally access content that I paid good money for. No one else will like it either. The Kindle is just a problem waiting to happen.