Quote:
Originally Posted by bhartman36
The fact that DRM-free content works for music (now) doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for ebooks (now).
The primary reason that DRM-free music works is because the hardware involved (primarily, the MP3 players) became easy enough to use, and the associated software (including the MP3 format) became good enough for consumers to easily download, store, play, search, manipulate (e.g., normalization), and catalogue their music -- with standards that were developed.
Ebooks, by contrast, have very few of those things. The reader hardware is good, but not necessarily great, and it's relatively expensive. Ebooks can come in several different formats (not including DRM formats), and there are metadata issues. Don't get me wrong: I love my Kindle, but there's a distance to go yet, before ebook readers will be ready for the masses. (The introduction of color e-Ink will obviously be a huge step in the right direction, as would the ability to have a light of some kind built-in to the book, which so far has proven difficult for e-Ink devices.)
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I don't follow the point you are trying to make here. You're saying that DRM-Free music is only acceptable due to the fact that we standardized on the MP3 container?
One of the problems with DRM is the fact that there isn't some universal standard. If I want to buy a book from Fictionwise but it is only available in a secure format I'm SOL since I have a Sony Reader. I'm not a criminal, I don't violate copyright, I just want to buy an ebook and read it on my reader. If not for the DRM I could just use Calibre to convert it to ePub or LRF. But since it does have DRM, I can't use it without violating the DMCA and becoming a criminal.
All DRM is doing is having me renew my library card since I can't legally use the book on my Reader, and therefor won't buy the book.