Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
This is partially my opinion and partially playing devil's advocate:
If you believe it's OK to violate the terms of use, and possibly the DMCA to circumvent DRM on items for which you have a non-time-restricted license ("owned"), it seems hypocritical to have a problem with doing it on a time-restricted license ("loaned") as long as you don't keep the item longer than the time you're allowed. You say there's "no reason" but other than long term backup/archive, there are all exactly the same reasons: format shifting, space shifting, accessibility and all the other freedom-enhancing, fair-use, reasonable reasons we don't like DRM.
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Perhaps you should take note of where I live before pitching the DMCA? For me, the DMCA is the product of a foreign government and does not apply in this country. Around here, the Copyright Reform Act has had several court decisions basically implying that removing DRM to allow archiving/backups for personal use is somewhat permissible. Not to mention that the damages recoverable are limited to the actual losses so, given that I purchased a copy of the ebook, the author/publisher/whatever is not going to have much in the line of damages to recover.
Format shifting? The local libraries loan epub format ebooks. Oddly, my Kobo ereaders read that format so no need for format shifting.
Accessibility? When I'm editing an ebook, I follow accessibility guidelines. They are not currently something that affects me but perhaps in the future. BTW, the relevant Canadian law allows for removing DRM for those who have perceptual issues.
Archiving and backup? A very good reason, IMNSHO, for removing DRM. I have multiple ebooks that were orphaned when DRM servers were shut down. I didn't see the companies such as Microsoft offering to reimburse the money that I had spent on books that if I followed their rules, would no longer be accessible.
Basically, I feel that library books are not mine. Perhaps a bit of hypocrisy since I remove DRM from books that I have purchased but a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
There is also the chance that after removing the DRM from a library loan, why not simply leave it in your library just in case you might want to re-read it later? A slippery slope that I don't want to start down.