Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
But they don't want to be paid per copy. They want to be paid per reader. So they've tried to claim the right to payment-per-reader, a paradigm that has never existed for pbooks. They've avoided acknowledging or developing the concept of transferable copies.
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Something similar has been tried. The original DIVX format was like that; you could only view it a certain number of times. I think there was some provision for limited copying as well. But consumers didn't really like the idea; they wanted something they could "own". It's not exactly the same; my point is technologically it's possible but there are hurdles.
A better idea might be an online licensing system, where each ebook file has a unique code that only works with one device. Transfer a code to a different device, and the code no longer works. Oh wait, we already have that... it's DRM. Only thing is, currently we have no centralized service for transferring. But it could be done; Amazon does this themselves when you get a replacement Kindle. The files have to be redownloaded with the new PID.
But you're right; ebook publishers have not gone down a path that makes ownership transfer a feature. Neither have other media folks. I think primarily because it would require specialized software and cooperation from OS makers. But while it may also be true that they are using this as a "power grab", it doesn't change the fact that that's the fundamental difference between libaries and ebooks. If there were a way to treat ebooks the same way, publishers would not be happy (they weren't initially happy with libraries either) but it might be something they could live with if it eliminated piracy.